The Indian Navy has successfully recovered and safely disposed of an unexploded missile warhead found lodged inside the fuel tank of a crude oil tanker, following a complex week-long operation carried out off the Kochi coast. The incident has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the region, particularly amid ongoing tensions in Gulf waters.
According to the Navy, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Olympic Life reported an explosion in its hull on May 26 while travelling from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to Kochi. The vessel, which had no Indian nationals on board, was transiting off the coast of Oman when the incident occurred.
As the ship continued its voyage towards India, it reported the suspected presence of unexploded ordnance onboard. Acting on inputs received through the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), the Southern Naval Command deployed a specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to assess and neutralise the threat.
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Navy officials said the team discovered that a projectile had pierced the vessel’s hull, passed through multiple internal compartments, and became embedded inside a fuel tank without detonating. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the situation, the removal and disposal operation required meticulous planning and was conducted over several days to avoid any risk of ignition or environmental damage.
After careful extraction, the warhead was transported to a secure facility for detailed technical analysis. Authorities have not yet disclosed the type of projectile or attributed responsibility for the strike, and investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the ordnance.
The operation comes amid heightened maritime security concerns in the region, with multiple vessels reportedly coming under attack off the coast of Oman in recent days. The developments have coincided with escalating tensions linked to the US–Iran confrontation, which has already disrupted commercial shipping routes and raised fears over the safety of merchant vessels.
Earlier this week, the situation intensified after reports of attacks on other ships operating in the area, including incidents involving Indian crew members. One such strike on the tanker MT Settebello resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers, prompting diplomatic protests from New Delhi and renewed calls for stronger maritime protection measures.
Indian authorities have since stepped up monitoring and escort operations under initiatives such as Operation Urja Suraksha, which involves naval deployment for safeguarding India-linked merchant shipping in high-risk zones. Officials, however, clarified that escort eligibility depends on operational criteria and is not solely based on the presence of Indian crew onboard vessels.
With investigations continuing into the origin of the projectile embedded in MT Olympic Life, the Navy’s operation is being seen as a significant example of complex explosive ordnance management at sea, highlighting both the evolving nature of maritime threats and the growing risks faced by global shipping routes.
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