Noor Ali

Boats of Arakan

Woodwork (WDW)

Transport

A fuinna naw is a small boat used primarily for fishing. It is also used as a means of transport by fishermen going to and from the market. These are usually seen near Maungdaw and Buthidaung, but also, rarely, near Akyab (Sittwe).

Garjan (Dipterocarpus alatus) and Boilam (Anisoptera scaphula) wood are the most used construction material for this craft. A fuinna naw is used for night and deep-water river fishing - fishermen cast their nets overnight and stay in the boat until early morning when they take the night’s catch to a foske or wholesaler. The covered part of the boat becomes a temporary shelter and meals are also cooked inside it.

The fuinna naw is a light craft and can’t carry too much weight. It is also called a bingi zaillor naw from the words bingi zal, a special type of net used by the night fishermen.