In their golden age, Iran's lenj vessels were used to transport goods such as spices, dried fish, and textiles from the Persian Gulf to East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. But as modern ships take their place, these hand-built boats now face an uncertain future.
Winds Of Change: Iran's Traditional Wooden Boats Face Uncertain Future
A man walks in front of a traditional Iranian lenj boat that awaits restoration on Iran's Qeshm Island on April 29. The silhouette of these hand-built wooden vessels is as much a part of the maritime landscape of the Middle East as that of the sailing dhows of the Arabian Peninsula.
Unique to the inhabitants of the northern coast of the Persian Gulf, these vessels have a long and storied history dating back to the 18th century. They were commonly used for trading, fishing, and pearl diving.
The navigation skills used to pilot these vessels were passed down from father to son. These seafarers were able to plot their ships positions according to the location of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as use special formulas to calculate latitudes and longitudes.
Not only are they entirely hand-built with expensive wood, but they were also created without any plans. Only the knowledge and experience of the builders are used to create these vessels.
To restore the vessels, workers often use pieces of cotton impregnated with coconut and sesame oil to fill the tiny gaps. The technique, called "kalfat kooby," is meant to make the hull water-resistant.
As modern boats become cheaper and faster, the use of traditional wooden vessels is decreasing, with many sitting idle.
In 2011, UNESCO inscribed the Iranian skills of "building and sailing Iranian lenj boats" as an intangible cultural heritage. Today, visitors can observe workers building and restoring vessels, such as this one on Qeshm Island.
Iran's Qeshm Island hopes to attract more tourists to see these traditional boats, which are an important part of their culture. However, with fishing and pearling in decline, shipowners are resorting to alternative uses for their vessels, such as turning them into cafes or stripping the vessels of their wood to be used elsewhere.