Nakhoda Ali bin Rashid bin Salem Al Marzouqi

Born in the Omani city of Sur in 1916 and died in the city of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, in 1986 at the age of about seventy. He was a nakhoda who took pride in his knowledge and experience and was among the famous in this field. He owned a single ship jointly with Abdullah bin Mubarak Al Marzouqi, of the boom type. He also sailed as nakhoda on a number of ships owned by others, such as:- 1 = the ship "Fath Al Mueen", owned by Juma bin Ali Wad Bahwan Al Mukhaini. 2 = the ship "Fath Al Razzaq", owned by Mohammed bin Salem bin Bakhit. 3 = the ship "Mutasahhil", of the sons of Makomat. 4 = "Kalbat Ashar", for Abdullah bin Khalfan and Ali bin Hamad Al Saadi. 5 = the ship "Saad Al Razzaq", owned by Sheikh Nasser bin Ali Al Hashar. 6 = the ship "Samha", of the ghanja type, for Nakhoda Nasser bin Saif Al Mukhaini. He travelled to Iraq, the Arab Gulf states, Iran, Pakistan, India, Yemen and Africa. Among his bold voyages: he was on a trip to India when news reached them that the ship "Al Washar" had been sunk by a German submarine during the Second World War, near Hafun in Somalia. He had to travel, so he set out by another route unknown to the European nakhodas and ships. He took a course to the south of India and sailed across the Indian Ocean until his route ran alongside the Green Island (Cape Verde); he then changed direction and headed north of it. Because of the long duration of the voyage, his family thought he had been lost — but, with his expertise in the seas and navigation, he reached Somalia without coming to harm. This incident is related by his navigation pupil, Nakhoda Khamis bin Mubarak Al Marzouqi, who accompanied him on that voyage. Reference: Hammoud bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Ghailani — Maritime History and Shipbuilding in the Omani City of Sur — Arabic Press — 2006