The Phatemar Story
Bombay with it's natural deep water harbour, its ship building industry and its proximity to the cotton growing hinterland, had many advantages over other ports on the Indian West coast, aiding a rapid growth of the port and the city making it truly the 'Gateway to India'.
The local coastal trade on the coasts of India since long was being carried out by a variety of country crafts built locally at the ancient coastal ports.Each of these country crafts had a history and function of it's own and were known for their strength and durability.One such craft 'Phatemar' built in Bombay, Thana and Ratnagiri ports considered as the best freight vessel on the Konkan coast was chosen to become the mascot of our Maritime Mumbai Museum Society.
'Phatemar' sailed well, carried a good amount of cargo, and was a pretty vessel with three masts and several jibs on the fore castle. Phatemars were used on the traffic southwards of Bombay upto Cochin, but more often on the Bombay- Marmagoa traffic, carrying mostly food grains, salt, piece goods and other general cargo from Bombay and bringing back timber, copra ( dry Coconut ), oil, pepper, sandalwood, coconuts from Calicut and Cochin. Skillfully navigated by the Moplas and other coastal sea-faring natives, the crew on board was about a dozen in number excluding the captain commonly referred to as 'Tandel'.
We at Maritime Mumbai Museum Society want to share the lost stories of Mumbai's Maritime past and point the way to our future as well. So come join us on our journey from Bombay to Mumbai. Support us in our endeavour to establish a Maritime Museum Of the City, By the City, For the City.
