Indian Navy removes unexploded warhead from Kochi-bound tanker after Oman incident

The Indian Navy says it has recovered and safely disposed of an unexploded missile warhead from the crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life after the vessel reported damage off the coast of Oman and continued towards Kochi. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was on passage from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to Kochi when it reported an explosion in its hull on 26 May. The Navy said the vessel later reported the presence of unexploded ordnance on board as it kept sailing towards the Indian port.

Sponsored

According to the Navy, the operation was launched after information was received through the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region. Kochi-based Southern Naval Command then deployed a specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to assess the threat. The team confirmed that a projectile had penetrated the ship's hull, passed through multiple structural compartments and become lodged inside a fuel tank.

The Navy said the tanker had no Indian nationals on board. The service said the presence of an unexploded missile warhead inside a fuel storage compartment created a serious risk to the ship, its crew and nearby port infrastructure. It said the EOD team used a deliberate, phased approach and carried out safety procedures before isolating the detonation mechanism and extracting the warhead with associated debris.

The recovered ordnance has been taken to a secure facility for storage and detailed examination. The incident highlights the risks faced by commercial shipping in busy sea lanes linking the Gulf and the Indian coast. It also underlines the role of naval and maritime information-sharing networks in responding to emergencies at sea, particularly when a vessel is carrying a potentially explosive object into port waters.

Sponsored

Kochi is one of India's major maritime hubs, so any unexploded ordnance on a tanker bound for the port raises immediate safety and operational concerns. The Navy said the response showed its ability to deal with complex maritime contingencies and to coordinate across agencies in a time-sensitive situation. It also said its response applied regardless of the nationality of the crew or the ownership of the vessel.

The statement framed the operation as part of India's wider role in regional maritime safety, although it did not say how the warhead came to be inside the tanker or who may have fired it. What remains unclear is the origin of the projectile, the cause of the initial explosion off Oman and whether the tanker suffered any further damage beyond the hull penetration described by the Navy. It is also not clear whether the vessel has reached Kochi or what inspections will follow after the ordnance recovery.

The next developments to watch are any technical findings from the secure examination of the warhead and any further official statements on the ship's condition and route.

#IndianNavy #Kochi #tanker #warhead #Oman

Sponsored