A 9th Century reconstructed Omani ship, the ‘Jewel of
Muscat’, is due to call at the Port of Galle on approximately 18th April 2010,
as its arrival date would be determined by weather conditions since it will be
using its sails for its voyage as it does not have an engine. Says the foreign
Ministry.
The ‘Jewel of Muscat’ commenced its voyage from Oman on 15th
February 2010 to re-enact the voyage that the seafaring nations of the time
undertook to facilitate “international trade” in the bygone era. It will travel
along the identical route as described by Arab geographers, using the same
knowledge of the Arab seamen. The ship has reached a port in Cochin,
in Kerala, Indiaon 15th March 2010 and sail from Cochin to Galle, Sri
Lanka. If the ship arrives as scheduled, it
would depart from the Galle Port on 4th May 2010 and will sail across the Andaman Seato Penang in Malaysia and
then sail down the Malacca Straits to Singapore.
The ‘Jewel of Muscat’ represents a major feat of maritime
engineering where the hull has been sewn together with coconut fibre. The ship,
which is built without nails to seal the hull, has each timber fitted
perfectly. The wood is protected by a layer of goat fat mixed with lime, and
the sails are square and made from palm leaves, re-creating the original
technology. The ship is manned by an
international crew, including sailors from Sri Lanka.
This historical and cultural initiative launched by the
Governments of Oman and Singapore,
involves the reconstruction of this 9th century ship sailing from Oman to Singapore. The ship´s design is
based on the archaeological findings of the Belitung Wreck, which was
discovered in 1998 off the Indonesian coast. The ship was found to contain
considerable treasure in the form of ceramic and gold artifacts, now known as
the Tang Treasure, which are in Singapore.
To coincide with the arrival of the ‘Jewel of Muscat’, a
series of events, including a joint cultural show would be organized by Sri Lanka. An
Omani delegation is also due to arrive in Sri Lanka to participate in this
historic event. The call by the ship at the Portof Galle will provide a unique
opportunity to strengthen the friendship and deepen cultural and diplomatic
relations between Sri Lankaand Oman.
