Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.): a preferred timber for shipbuilding in India as evidenced from shipwrecks

One of the greatest achievements of man is the design and development of a variety of watercraft suitable for marine and riverine purposes and safer for the environment. From ancient times, timber was the main component for the construction of these crafts, until it was replaced by iron/steel. As the size of the vessels increased to accommodate more cargo and overseas trade became more frequent, superior quality timber was used in the construction of vessels. Among the timbers used, teak was mostly preferred for building boats and ships. Many ships have been explored and excavated, and the timber used has been identified, but a detailed microstructural analysis has not been presented. The Cara Merchant or Quedagh Merchant ship, built in Surat, Gujarat, India was pirated by Captain Kidd, and subsequently wrecked off the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic in 1699. Indiana University, USA, carried out exploration to locate Cara Merchant. This communication presents a comparative study of the anatomical analysis of the microstructure of a wood sample with the wood from the wrecked Cara Merchant. This study is an attempt to support the use of teak in boat and shipbuilding as mentioned in the literature.