Following a ceremony today on Tuesday 16th February 2010, under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said advisor to His Majesty and in the presence of a number of dignitaries, Ambassadors, friends and families, Jewel of Muscat departed today from Port Sultan Qaboos on its historic Voyage to Singapore.
In an opening note HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said Advisor to HM History mentioned
that it is a historic moment as the Jewel of Muscat departs. He included that the crew
members carry great responsibility as they follow the footsteps of our ancestors and that
through collaborative team work and great focus and determination they will reach their
destination with the God Al might’s blessings.
Captain Saleh Al Jabri and his mainly Omani crew waved their farewell to well wishers and
immediately settled down to getting used to life on board the Jewel, an Omani ship inspired
by a 9th Century hand sewn sailing vessel, found carrying what has become known as the
Tang Treasure.
The Ship will left the Harbour to sail across the Oman Sea and the Arabian Sea, heading to
Cochin in India.
“Today is the day the crew and I have been looking forward to. It will be an emotional
farewell for all of us but we are all also very excited to start this journey. Seeing the people
today, including those at the Corniche, waving their farewell to us was very motivational as it
is their prayers that will be our greatest source of strength.”
– – Captain Said Al Jabri
“Saleh is a strong man, this is not his first time sailing, he has a lot of experience with the sea.
He has been the second in command when the ship Shabab Oman had sailed earlier, and I am
sure that with their focus and enthusiasm he and the crew will have a successful trip to
Singapore Inshala”
– Abdullah Al Jabri, Captin Saleh’s brother
Saleh will steer the ship along the ancient trading routes to her final destination in Singapore,
calling in at Cochin in India, Galle in Sri Lanka and Georgetown and Malacca in Malaysia on
the way. The voyage is expected to take five months, arriving in Singapore in July.
The departure ceremony for Jewel of Muscat included the traditions including local dances
and songs in which Omani ships used to depart centuries ago for long journeys in the past.
Families and friends gathered expressing their best wishes and emotional farewell. HH Saied
Shihab then wished Captin Saleh and the crew the best and then gave the Captin the Holy
Quran in part of the blessing for the voyage. The ceremony reminded those present of the
historical renown that Oman’s maritime heritage enjoys. The atmosphere was charged with
pride and emotion as the ship raises her sails on her epic journey in the wake of her ancestors.