The uru or dhow was the traditional Arabian trading vessel. Once the Arab traders discovered wealthy Kerala, her solid timber, skilled craftsmen and her native technology centuries ago, they
shifted their dhow construction to Malabar (northern Kerala).
Beypore in Kozhikode district, the most important harbour in the region, thus became the centre for ship building. The industry thrived here until recently when iron and steel took over as the
best material for construction.
Urus were gigantic vessels, created meticulously by nailing together well planed planks of timber. It took a team of fifty men at least four years to complete a vessel.
Today, not many vessels are launched from Beypore and the artisans have taken to
crafting little wooden models of their gigantic masterpieces. These four inch to eight foot 'Model Vessels' crafted out of teak wood.
Fancy artefacts like the models enclosed in bottles are more popular.