Tartous, Oct. 1 (SANA) Licensing burdens are discouraging boatbuilders on Syria’s Arwad island from teaching their children the traditional craft, threatening its survival, a local craftsman told SANA.
Riyad Bahlawan called on port authorities to simplify boat licensing procedures and recognise the heritage value of a trade passed down through generations.
Some craftsmen no longer encourage their children to learn because of the difficulties involved, he said, warning that the loss of skills could eventually lead to the craft’s disappearance.
Bahlawan learned boatbuilding from his father and brothers, starting at six or seven years old. By 13, he was working alongside his brothers before later building his first boat independently.
His workshop produces fishing and leisure boats, along with passenger vessels serving the route between Arwad and Tartous, according to customers’ requirements.
Construction begins with the main structural frame, followed by the hull’s ribs and the shaping of the bow and stern. Different woods serve different purposes, including eucalyptus for the ribs and cypress for the deck, while construction time depends on the vessel’s size.
Bahlawan said Arwad’s boats have a balance that helps them withstand high waves, reflecting generations of accumulated boatbuilding experience.
The craft also attracts Syrian and foreign visitors interested in the island’s maritime traditions, he said.
Arwad lies about three kilometres off Tartous. Wooden boatbuilding has long been linked to the island’s fishing, transport and maritime activities, with some workshops continuing to use traditional methods and inherited skills.
R.H/M.F
