The ship (Fath Al Khair) returns to its original home in the state
After sailing the seas and ports of India and the coasts of Africa for 43 years
The Omani city of Sur is rich in its maritime heritage that highlights the great pioneering role played by the Omanis in the field of maritime navigation
Over a long period of time and to preserve this heritage and so that it does not disappear from the memory of generations, the Maritime Museum was established in the state of Sur at the headquarters of Al-Arabiya Club to embody various aspects of maritime heritage and domestic heritage in one crucible. This museum was established in 1987 AD and since its establishment it has provided a scientific service to its visitors from students, intellectuals and tourists who are interested in searching for the treasures of Omani civilization and what the righteous predecessors were characterized by in terms of seriousness and perseverance in the pursuit of a decent life. Museum Contents
The Maritime Museum contains types of Omani ships with pictures and models and pictures of their captains, sailors, shipbuilders and the ports they frequented in addition to equipment and maritime navigation tools from measurements, maps and manuscripts.
In another corner, shipbuilding tools, types of wood, nails and night light guides are displayed. The museum also includes pictures of the city of Sur in 1905 AD and pictures of the city’s landmarks and monuments, including castles, forts and towers, in addition to old mosques, some poets, folk medicine men and coins used in the past.
A wing was also allocated for Suri men’s and women’s fashions, most of which were made of local textiles, and utensils used for cooking, drinking and household items of all kinds.
Ship (Fath Al-Khair)
The ship (Fath Al-Khair) is considered the last ship that was included in the huge naval fleet owned by the state of Sur, which had a great role in introducing Oman in the various ports where the ships of that fleet docked, as the efforts of the loyal people of Sur were crowned with purchasing it and returning it to its original homeland where it was made. (Fath Al-Khair) is distinguished by the strength of its construction, the quality of its wood and the beauty of its shape, which made it a historical masterpiece that represents the glorious past of the people of Sur, captains, craftsmen and sailors.
Fath Al Khair returned to Sur on Friday, June 18, 1993 after being purchased from Yemen.
This ship served for 43 years, 24 of which were in Sur and 19 in Dubai and Yemen after being sold. It sailed to all the ports of the Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, India and the coasts of East Africa.
If we talk about the history of its manufacture, the ship Fath Al Khair was built in 1370 AH corresponding to 1951 AD in the Al Rasha neighborhood in the city of Sur. It was supervised by Mohammed bin Khamis Al Shaqaq and was owned by the captain Saeed bin Ali bin Khamis bin Shaila Al Qasimi. It took a full year to build and was participated in by a number of the most skilled carpenters at that time. It was the first ship to convert from a sail system to diesel engines, and this was done in 1957 AD.
Its planks are made of teak, bontig, sidr, mit, qart and feni wood, and its base is made of yingli wood, while the mast is made of feni wood.
The most prominent captains who led it were Abdullah bin Rashid bin Saeed Al-Mahna Al-Sanani, may God have mercy on him, and Saeed bin Mubarak Al-Atiqi.
It is expected that the Maritime Museum will soon be included alongside the ship (Fath Al-Khair) to be together a single clear picture of the past of a city whose sailors raised the Omani flag fluttering over the waves of the ocean and in the remote ports of the Levant, confirming the vast dimension of Omani cultural communication with the world.
The subject is by the journalist / Abdullah Ba’alawi
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