Jewel Of Muscat To Become Centrepiece Of Resorts World Sentosa Maritime Xperiential Museum

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, July 1 (Bernama) - The Jewel of Muscat, a 9th-century Arab replica sailing ship, and a gift from the Sultanate of Oman to Singapore, will be anchored at Resorts World Sentosa's upcoming attraction, the Maritime Xperiential Museum.

The museum, which will pay tribute to the maritime silk route and Asia's rich maritime history, is scheduled to open next year.

Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said today the Jewel of Muscat, which is on the last leg of its historic voyage from Oman to Singapore, will arrive at the Marina at Keppel Bay here this Saturday.

Singapore President S R Nathan and Sayyid Harib Bin Thuwainy Al-Said, the representative of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman, will attend the ceremony to welcome the ship.

The 18-metre ship has been built without nails and its planks were sewn together with coconut fibre, and had to fit perfectly so as to ensure that the ship is watertight. The wood is protected by a layer of goat fat mixed with lime.

The ship set sail from Oman on Feb 16 this year and has called at ports in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia en route to here, retracing part of the historic maritime trade route between Arabia and the Far East.

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=510193