The Indian Navy successfully recovered an unexploded missile warhead lodged inside a fuel tank of the crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life near Kochi. The complex operation highlighted the Navy's explosive ordnance disposal expertise and commitment to maritime safety.
The Indian Navy has successfully completed a highly complex and high-risk operation to recover an unexploded missile warhead from the crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life, reaffirming its expertise in maritime security and emergency response.
The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, carrying no Indian nationals onboard, was sailing from Fujairah in the UAE to Kochi when it reported an explosion in its hull while off the coast of Oman on May 26, 2026. Despite the incident, the vessel continued its journey toward Kochi and later informed authorities about the presence of a suspected unexploded ordnance onboard.
Following receipt of the information through the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), the Indian Navy initiated an immediate response. The Southern Naval Command, headquartered in Kochi, deployed a specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to assess the situation.
During the inspection, the EOD team discovered that a projectile had penetrated the vessel's hull, passed through multiple structural compartments, and become lodged inside a fuel storage tank. The presence of an unexploded missile warhead within a fuel compartment posed significant risks to the vessel, its crew, and nearby port infrastructure.
Given the dangers involved, the Navy adopted a carefully planned and phased approach. After implementing all prescribed safety measures, specialists used advanced diagnostic techniques to identify and isolate the detonation mechanism. The team then safely extracted the warhead along with associated debris.
The recovered ordnance has since been transported to a secure facility for detailed examination and safe storage.
The successful completion of the operation highlights the Indian Navy's technical expertise, precision in explosive ordnance disposal, and strong inter-agency coordination. The Navy said its swift response, irrespective of the vessel's nationality or ownership, reflects India's commitment to ensuring maritime safety and maintaining regional security.
