Muscat: Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of India in the Sultanate of Oman, organized a reception for the Indian Navy sailing vessel ‘INSV Kaundinya’ at Port Sultan Qaboos. The vessel embarked on its journey on 29 December from Porbandar, a port city in Gujarat, India.

According to Oman News Agency, the reception was held under the auspices of Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, and was attended by Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India. This visit commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Oman and India, highlighting their growing economic integration.

Captain Saleh Said Al Jabri, who captains the Jewel of Muscat, remarked that the arrival of the ‘Kaundinya’ reflects the historic maritime connections between Oman and India, which have historically relied on traditional sailing ships powered by monsoon winds to enhance trade and social ties.

Commander Visas Sheoran, Skipper of the INSV Kaundinya, shared that the journey from India to Oman took 17 days. The vessel will spend twenty days in Oman for maintenance before heading back to India. This marks ‘Kaundinya’s’ inaugural visit to Oman. The vessel, built with ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques, serves as a testament to the shared maritime history and draws design inspiration from ancient ships that connected Omani ports with India’s western coast.

The reception was attended by officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Navy of Oman, and the Royal Oman Police.