Dhow

• The Dhow is one of the oldest type of ocean going vessels and has been operating in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea since at least the first century CE.

Description

• The Dhow can have one or two masts with either a Settee or Lateen sail.
• Their origin is attributed to either Arabia or India.
• Teak from the Forests of Kerala in India, has been used to build the ships since antiquity.
• Coir Rope from coconut fibre was also readily available.
• Beypore, Kerala, has been the centre of Dhow shipbuilding since at least the first century CE, and shipbuilding continues today.

Use

• Dhows built in Beypore, were bought by the Arab Merchants as well as the Indian Merchants.
• The smaller Dhows were used for coastal trading.
• Larger Dhows with thirty sailors were used for crossing the Indian Ocean.
• Navigation across the Ocean was by reference to the Pole Star to calculate Latitude.
• Most of the ports around the Indian Ocean continue to use Dhows today.