Ship building in the Gulf

In addition to my Middle East politics course I undertook my first independent study class for Arabic this semester. One of the things I worked on during the second half of the semester was a translation of a Bahrani text on ship building. Although these historical ships have mostly been replaced by the huge tankers and freighters they are still used locally by fishermen and for taking tourists on rides. This was my first attempt at doing any formal translating.

Here are some pieces of the project:

The island of Bahrain continued to play an outstanding role in navigation in the Persian Gulf during the era of the Islamic state. Bahrain has had a long experience ship and boat manufacturing and the skill at riding the sea and knowledge of astronomical information spread with Muslims departing from the coast of Bahrain toward India, Persia, and elsewhere during Islamic conquest. 

In the middle ages, Bahrain played a distinctive role in the Gulf by trading with the Middle and Far East. The main staples of trade they specialized in were silks, spices, perfumes, incense and precious goods sent to ports in the vast parts of the Islamic world. 

Bahrain was famous in the middle ages for exporting dates, Arabian horses, and natural pearls to India and China. Bahrain was also the center of pearl and oyster diving in the Gulf. The inhabitants have traditionally been known throughout history as artisans for ship manufacturing and transoceanic sailing to the south but also as makers of ropes and sails and the dried fish and pearl trade. 

Types of ships:

Al Ghanjah: A large type of ship that is very similar to what al danqah and al bateel is like in the bow and has a stern like al danqah. It has inscriptions on it and it was used to transport goods on long distance voyages. 

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Shwayee: The Shwayee is a small boat used for pearl diving and for fishing in the regional ports as well as transporting goods at port. It is still used in the southern Gulf. The Shwayee is like the Sanbouk where it wings out in the rear and has oars but it is smaller than Sanbouk. 

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Al Bateel: The Bateel is characterized by its enormous size and top speed. It is mostly used for long distance voyages to Indian ports and for transporting goods and passengers, as well as things associated with diving because of its high speeds. It is distinguished by a bow that is bent and a sloped stern that has oars. 

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Al Boom: This is one type of the larger traditional vessels and is distinguished by a bow and stern that is similar in shape. Its size depends on a large straight plank that acts like a keel. Its size can reach to be more than 90 meters. It is usually used for long distant voyages across the ocean and transporting passengers and goods. Al boom have a low main deck and a short raised deck at the rear. The front of the keel beam is curved and protrudes out front of the ship while the tip is painted black with a white stripe. 

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