Boom (ship)

This article is about the type of ship. For horizontal spar attached to the mast of a sailboat, seeboom (sailing).For floating barriers to control access to harbours and rivers, seeboom (navigational barrier).For boom-laying ship, seenet laying ship.For other uses, seeBoom.

Aboum/boom(Arabic:بوم) (French:bhum), known asdhangiinIndia,is a medium-sized deep-seadhow,a traditional Arabic sailing vessel.

Picture of a boum inKuwait.

An Indian-style boum sailing. Note the shorter prow

Boum;Maritime MuseuminKuwait Citycommemorating the founding ofKuwaitas a sea port for merchants.

This type of dhow has two masts withlateen sails,a stern that is tapering in shape and a more symmetrical overall structure than other dhow types. The Arab boum has a very high prow, which is trimmed in theIndianversion.

History

The boum replaced the heavierbaghlahsandghanjahswhich were more difficult to maneuver. Booms were mainly built inBeypore,KonkanandGujarat,India,andKuwaitand are primarily used along the coasts of theArabian Peninsula,Sindh,the west coast of theIndian Subcontinent,andEast Africa.

Nowadays some Booms have been converted intomotorboatsafter being fitted with engines instead of sails, especially in thePersian Gulfarea. A boum in full sail is represented in theEmblem of Kuwait,emphasizing its traditional importance in the country, where it was used to carry fresh water and in thepearlindustry, as well as a trading ship.

See also

• Kuwait Scientific Center
• Uru (boat)
• Ghanjah
• Shu'ai

Further reading

• Clifford W. Hawkins,The dhow: an illustrated history of the dhow and its world.

External links

• Kuwait boum