The Traidhos Three-Generation Barge has been on vacation in Samut Prakan recently, where she has undergone repairs to the woodwork, engines, and other mechanical parts. On visits to the dockyard, I have been interested to see the traditional techniques used by the engineers to fashion the wooden planks and maintain the beauty of a wooden boat. The dry dock workers have brought the skills of centuries to play, setting fire to new planks to gently bend and shape them to fit exactly into the curve of the hull and using traditional fibres in the caulking process.

This week,  Captain  Pichit, performed a ceremony to console and pay respects  to Mae Ya Naang,  (แม่ย่านาง in Thai) the Guardian Goddess of Boats before the Barge was allowed to leave the dry dock and return to her home, floating along  the Chao Phraya River.