“Kalhu oh’fummi” handed over to Home Ministry

The replica of “Kalhu oh’fummi”, built as part of Minivan 50 celebrations, has been handed over to Home Ministry.

The replica was handed over in a ceremony held in HA. Utheemu on Saturday.

Maritime Underwater Heritage Society of the Maldives had built the replica. Speaking in the ceremony, the Society’s President Mohamed Ibrahim Khaleel said that the biggest challenge was that no accurate rendition of the vessel was never seen in historical accounts. Therefore, he said that the replica was created based on the oral accounts of the vessel.

“Kalhu oh’fummi was built 460 years ago. We had to create it using our imagination,” he said.

Haleem said that even though the weather did not permit the use of three sails, the replica was built with the three sails as reported. He also said that a special section of National Museum needed to be created while Kalhu oh’fummi was displayed there.

The replica of Kalhu oh’fummi was created using traditional boat building methods used in that era. The Society said that no electrical equipment was used in building the replica.

The Society built the replica free of charge, with the Government providing the tools for the work.

In the ceremony, citizens of Utheemu made a presentation to the vessel.

Kalhu oh’fummi will scheduled to depart to Male’ on the 15th of this month. The vessel will remain docked in Male’ for two days and then will be displayed in the grounds of the National Museum.