Jewel of Muscat

Kochi, India
Monday 15th March 2010

Jewel of Muscat is warmly welcomed in India

After spending twenty-eight days crossing two seas from Muscat to Cochin, Jewel of Muscat was given a warm Indian welcome as she arrived in Cochin on Monday 15th March 2010.
Oman’s Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mohammed Al Zarafi, H.E. Humaid Al Maani, Oman’s Ambassador to India and other VIPs from Oman greeted Jewel of Muscat from at the harbour entrance and watched as she was escorted into the port by official Indian and private vessels, and helicopters. The crew of Jewel was in high spirits, smiling and waving to those who had come to escort her to her berth.
Oman’s Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mohammed Al Zarafi said:
“Thanks to God, we are very happy to see the Jewel and her crew arrive successfully in India. The Jewel is an example of Oman’s proud maritime heritage, and today I am honored to welcome our heroes in their first stop on their way to Singapore. I would like to thank the people and government of India for their warm welcome of the Jewel. Oman and India continues to have a healthy and strong relationship since ages and the Jewel of Muscat reflects and honors this relationship between the two countries.”

After official formalities were completed, the Jewel of Muscat’s crew disembarked to stirring music played by the brass band of the Indian Navy. They were welcomed by Indian and Omani dignitaries and as they made their way onshore their achievement was celebrated by a troupe of Omani artists performing traditional drumming and dancing. Each crew member was garlanded with jasmine flowers and enthusiastically joined in the welcoming celebrations.

Captain Saleh stated, "I thank God for our safe arrival in India. This has been a challenging but extremely rewarding voyage and I am so proud of how the entire crew worked together to make this leg of the journey a success. We are from many nationalities, but we worked as one--with one heart and one mind--to accomplish this goal. Of course we still have a long way to go before we reach our final destination, but the crew has learned a great deal about sailing this unique ship and about living and working together, so I am even more confident than before that, God willing, we shall arrive safely in Singapore."

The seventeen crew members will now enjoy a few days rest and attend official functions before Jewel is hauled out of the water for a thorough hull inspection and a new coat of anti-fouling in preparation for the next leg of her historic voyage, from Cochin to Galle in Sri Lanka, which is expected to take between 7 to 10 days. She departs from Cochin on 10th April. From Galle, Jewel of Muscat will sail to Georgetown on Penang Island then to Malacca in Malaysia before sailing on her final leg to Singapore.
The voyage of Jewel of Muscat celebrates the historic trade route between Oman and Singapore, and her stopover in India acknowledges the strong historic friendship and cooperation that has existed for thousands of years and continues into modern times.

Meanwhile back in Oman, School children have been visiting the Education centre to learn about the making of the ship and its historic journey to Singapore. Aminaa Al Jabri, Captin Saleh’s Al Jabri’s Sister and Manager of the Jewel of Muscat Education Centre says: “I am so happy to be part of this project. It is our responsibility to share and aware the story of Jewel of Muscat to the younger generations so that they learn the heritage of their country. We aim to attract as may students as possible and anyone can visit the centre at its opening hours during the weekdays at 9:00 – 13:00 at Bandar al Rowdha marina beside Oman Sail’s academy, but further visits outside the official timing can also always be arranged”
Many schools from the Sultanate have visited the centre. Mr Sami Al Battashi- an instructor at Al Saidia School said upon his visit: “I am very happy to be here and the students are very excited. This is very crucial and useful for the students to know about the history of their country and the maritime heritage of the sultanate. And the Jewel of Muscat is a symbol of this heritage. This is something important and enjoyable and we thank the organisers and the of this education centre for their arrangements and making is the centre both simple and entertaining for the children to benefit from”

Ends.