In a high-risk operation on the high seas, the Indian Navy safely disposed of an unexploded warhead recovered from the fuel storage compartment of a missile-hit crude oil tanker, approximately 50 nautical miles off the Kochi coast. The operation was conducted while the vessel was sailing to Kochi from Fujairah in the UAE, the defence ministry stated on Thursday.
Incident Details
The Navy responded after the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Olympic Life reported an explosion on its port side aft at 09.45 UTC (3:15 PM IST) on May 26, while sailing around 60 nautical miles east of Oman, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations data. The origin of the missile remains unknown.
Despite the unexploded ordnance, MT Olympic Life, capable of carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil, continued its journey towards Kochi. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that no Indian nationals were among the crew.
Navy's Response
The Navy team adopted a deliberate and phased approach to ensure the safety of the ship, its crew, and surrounding port infrastructure. Upon receiving the information, the Navy initiated a coordinated response. The Kochi-based Southern Naval Command deployed a specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team for a detailed assessment.
The team confirmed that a projectile had penetrated the vessel's hull, traversed multiple structural compartments, and was lodged inside the fuel tank. The EOD team employed advanced diagnostic methods to identify and isolate the detonation mechanism before safely extracting the warhead along with associated debris. The recovered ordnance has been transported to a secure facility for safe stowage and detailed examination.
Safe Arrival
After the removal of the warhead, the tanker safely arrived at Kochi port on Wednesday and is currently docked there. All crew members and the tanker are safe.
The ministry stated that the Navy's prompt response to an emergency at sea, regardless of the crew's nationality or the ownership of MT Olympic Life, reaffirms its role as a responsible maritime force dedicated to global maritime safety and a trusted security partner in the region.
