The Indian Navy successfully completed a complex high-risk operation to safely recover an unexploded missile warhead from the Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life. The vessel, which had no Indian nationals onboard, was transiting from Fujairah, UAE to Kochi when it reported an explosion in its hull off the coast of Oman on 26 May 2026. The tanker continued its transit toward Kochi while reporting the presence of unexploded ordnance.
Upon receiving information through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), the Indian Navy initiated a coordinated response. The Kochi-based Southern Naval Command deployed a specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team for detailed assessment. The team confirmed that a projectile had penetrated the vessel's hull, traversed multiple structural compartments, and was lodged inside a fuel tank.
Given the significant risks associated with an unexploded missile warhead inside a fuel storage compartment, the EOD team adopted a deliberate and phased approach to ensure the safety of the ship, its crew, and surrounding port infrastructure. After completing prescribed safety procedures, the team employed advanced diagnostic methods to identify and isolate the detonation mechanism before carrying out the safe extraction of the warhead along with associated debris. The recovered ordnance has been transported to a secure facility for safe stowage and detailed examination.
This meticulously planned operation, conducted over an extended duration, underscores the Indian Navy's proficiency in explosive ordnance disposal, technical expertise, and effective inter-agency coordination in addressing complex maritime contingencies. The Navy's prompt response to an emergency at sea, irrespective of the nationality of the crew or ownership of the vessel, reaffirms its role as a responsible maritime force dedicated to global maritime safety and its position as a trusted security partner in the region.