The Indian Navy has successfully disposed of an unexploded missile warhead recovered from a crude oil tanker in a daring operation on the high seas. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, MT Olympic Life, was en route to Kochi from Fujairah in the UAE when the incident occurred, the defence ministry confirmed on Thursday.
Details of the Operation
The high-risk mission was executed on May 26 after the ship's master reported an explosion on the port side aft of the vessel near the waterline at 09:45 UTC. At the time, the tanker was sailing approximately 60 nautical miles east of Oman, as per UK Maritime Trade Operations data. The source of the missile remains unknown.
MT Olympic Life, a very large crude carrier capable of carrying roughly 2 million barrels of crude oil, continued its journey toward Kochi despite the unexploded ordnance. While the exact number of crew members is not available, such vessels typically operate with 20 to 25 personnel. The ministry clarified that no Indian nationals were among the crew.
Navy's Coordinated Response
Upon receiving information through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy initiated a coordinated response. The Kochi-based Southern Naval Command deployed a specialist explosive ordnance disposal team for assessment. The team confirmed that a projectile had penetrated the hull, traversed multiple structural compartments, and lodged inside a fuel tank.
Given the risks of an unexploded warhead in a fuel storage compartment, the EOD team adopted a deliberate and phased approach to ensure safety. They employed advanced diagnostic methods to identify and isolate the detonation mechanism before safely extracting the warhead and associated debris. The recovered ordnance has been transported to a secure facility for examination.
Safe Arrival at Kochi
After the warhead was removed, the seven-year-old tanker safely arrived at Kochi port on June 10 and is currently docked there. All crew members and the vessel are safe.
The meticulously planned operation, conducted over an extended period, highlights the Indian Navy's proficiency in explosive ordnance disposal, technical expertise, and inter-agency coordination in complex maritime contingencies. The defence ministry stated that the Navy's prompt response reaffirms its role as a responsible maritime force dedicated to global safety and a trusted security partner in the region.
