Published Jun 12, 2026 | 8:48 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2026 | 8:48 AM
An Indian Navy EOD team successfully recovered an unexploded missile warhead from MT Olympic Life
Synopsis: An Indian Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team successfully recovered and neutralised an unexploded missile warhead found inside the crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life after the vessel sustained damage off the coast of Oman.
An Indian Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Kochi successfully recovered and neutralised an unexploded missile warhead found inside the crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life after the vessel sustained damage off the coast of Oman.
The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, which did not have any Indian nationals onboard, was sailing from Fujairah in the UAE to Kochi when it reported a hull explosion on 26 May. After the crew alerted authorities about suspected unexploded ordnance on board, the Kochi-based Navy team was deployed to inspect the vessel.
They found that a projectile had pierced the ship’s hull and become lodged inside a fuel tank, creating a major safety risk.
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The vessel reported the presence of an unexploded ordnance as it continued its transit towards Kochi, said the Indian Navy in a press release.
The Navy said, in view of the risks associated with the presence of 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 completion of prescribed safety procedures, the EOD team employed advanced diagnostic methods to identify and isolate the detonation mechanism before carrying out the safe extraction of the warhead along with the associated debris.
Following a complex operation, the team safely identified, extracted and secured the missile warhead for further examination.
“The Indian Navy’s prompt response to an emergency at sea, irrespective of the nationality of the crew or the ownership of MT Olympic Life, reaffirms its role as a responsible maritime force dedicated to global maritime safety and a trusted and preferred security partner in the region,” the Indian Navy said.
The Navy said the mission demonstrated its expertise in handling high-risk explosive threats at sea.
(With inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
