Jewel of Muscat

Tomorrow Monday 1st of February the Jewel of Muscat will be officially named in an inauguration Ceremony under the patronage of HE Abdel Aziz bin Mohamed Al Rawas Advisor to HM with the presence HE Jo Tchok Tong Senior minister of Singapore at the Wave, Muscat.

The Jewel of Muscat project is a historical accomplishment that adds to the Sultanate’s achievements.

The Jewel of Muscat is a reconstruction of a 9th century sewn-plank ship made of handmade coconut fiber ropes and wood without a single nail. She will be given as a gift from the Government of the Sultanate of Oman to the people of Singapore. Setting sail from Muscat, the Jewel of Muscat will follow old trading routes stopping in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia before, dependent on the trade winds, arriving in Singapore approximately five months later. Singapore is one of Oman’s oldest trading partners and the Jewel of Muscat will be displayed in Singapore to heighten the awareness of the old trading routes between the two countries.

The Jewel of Muscat takes its blueprint from a 9th century wreck of a ship that was carrying more than 60,000 pieces of Chinese ceramics, silver and gold artifacts, spices and other commodities, now known as the Tang Treasure, that was discovered in 1998 in Indonesian waters. Displaying the characteristics of vessels built in the western Indian Ocean at that time, the Jewel of Muscat’s reconstruction represents a major feat of maritime engineering. Even today, the 1,200-year-old method of sewing the hull planks together with handmade coconut-fibre rope makes the vessel extremely resilient, and during the whole process from shaping the first planks to hoisting the palm-leaf sails that were woven in Qantab not one nail nor screw was used.

The first plank was laid on Qantab beach in Muscat, on the 21st October 2008. Jewel of Muscat was launched on 18th October 2009, a construction time that is testament to the skilled labour involved in constructing her and the support given by Oman’s Government.

This inspiring project is a source of pride to the Sultanate and brings returns the maritime heritage of Oman into the modern day. It symbolizes Oman’s authenticity and heritage and reflects the valuable balance between the past and the present.

A quick glance - about the Jewel of Muscat Project:

A cultural joint initiative between Oman and Singapore

Length: 18m/60 ft long

Hand built 9th century sewn-plank ship using a 1,200 year old method of sewing the hull planks together with hand-woven coconut fibres and without a single nail or screw.

Inspiration taken from the wreck of a ship found in the western Indian Ocean in 1998.

Will set to sail on an epic voyage from Muscat at the end of February 2010 traveling the same routes across the Indian Ocean as those described by Arab navigators.

Will arrive in Singapore where it will be officially handed over as a gift from the Government of the Sultanate of Oman to Singapore.

The captain is Saleh Al Jabri, a former instructor with Oman Sail and second in command of the training ship Shabab Oman.