Lanyu boat sets sail on historic journey to Philippines' Batanes

Taipei, June 15 (CNA) A traditional Indigenous boat built by the Yami (Tao) people departed Lanyu (Orchid Island) Monday for the Philippine archipelago of Batanes, retracing an ancestral sea route linking the two communities that has not been sailed by traditional vessels for 300 years.

Tao community members gathered at a local port to see off the crew aboard the Ovayan, a traditional wooden plank vessel known as an ipanitika, and to offer prayers and encouragement.

The boat, which can carry 20 people, was built without nails and completed in March. It underwent a sea trial on April 28 and held a traditional launch ceremony on June 9.

Maraos, who heads the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation (IPCF), said the Tao people of Lanyu and the Ivatan people of Batanes are closely related maritime communities whose languages remain more than 80 percent mutually intelligible.

According to the IPCF, 60 crew members will paddle in relays for more than 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) across the Bashi Channel to Batanes, symbolizing shared heritage between the two communities.

The zero-carbon vessel Porrima P111 heads a fleet of seven support ships providing escort and logistical support for the voyage, combining modern maritime technology with traditional navigation knowledge.

The IPCF said the project took three years to prepare, adding that the Ovayan is one of the largest modern-era traditional Tao plank boats, measuring about 12 meters in length.

During a launch ceremony last week, Maraos said the crossing is expected to take about two days from Lanyu to Mahatao Port in the Batanes Islands.

He added that upon arrival, the two communities will hold a welcoming port ceremony, as well as song exchanges and cultural sharing activities aimed at strengthening cultural ties.