PTI photo In a risky operation on the high seas, Indian Navy safely disposed of an unexploded warhead recovered from the fuel storage compartment of a missile-hit crude oil tanker 50 nautical miles off the Kochi coast.The operation was conducted when the vessel was sailing to Kochi from UAE’s Fujairah, the defence ministry said on Thursday.The Navy responded when the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Olympic Life reported an explosion on its port side aft at 09.45 UTC (3.15pm IST) on May 26 while sailing around 60 nautical miles east of Oman, as per UK Maritime Trade Operations data.It is still not known who fired the missile.While reporting about the unexploded ordnance, MT Olympic Life, which can carry roughly two million barrels of crude oil, continued towards Kochi. MoD said there was no Indian among the crew.The Navy team adopted a deliberate and phased approach to ensure the safety of the ship, its crew and surrounding port infrastructure.Projectile penetrated vessel’s hull, was lodged in fuel tankOn receiving the information, the Navy initiated a coordinated response. Kochi-based Southern Naval Command deployed a specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team for detailed assessment, the ministry said. The team confirmed that a projectile had penetrated the vessel’s hull, traversed multiple structural compartments and was lodged inside the fuel tank, it said.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 associated debris. The recovered ordnance has been transported to a secure facility for safe stowage and detailed examination, the Navy said.After the removal of the warhead, the tanker safely arrived at Kochi port on Wednesday, and is currently docked there. All crew members and the tanker are safe.The ministry said the 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.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorDisney TomDisney Tom is a senior correspondent with The Times of India in Kochi. He writes on a range of issues including crime, courts, religion, and culture. He joined The Times of India in 2015 through campus placement from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. He likes to travel and write about people and places.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosFalta Strongman Paraded In Shorts By Cops After Arrest In Falta | WatchAll 28 Chief Ministers Attend NITI Aayog Meeting, Marking End of Recent Boycott TrendKirti Azad Dismisses Exit Talks, Says Didi Will Fix Kalyan Banerjee Dispute | WatchCongress Sweeps Three Of Four Karnataka Rs Seats As Poll Ends Without ContestBJP Wins All Three MP Rajya Sabha Seats Unopposed After Congress Nominee RejectedRam Mandir Funds Issue Takes New Turn With Call For Investigation; Calls For Accountability Emerge’Abhishek Banerjee Destroyed TMC’: Suspended Leader Riju Dutta Launches Fresh AttackIndia-Bangladesh Border Standoff Leaves 55-year-old Stranded In No-Man’s LandEggs Thrown At Arrested TMC Leader Sukumar Dutta During Court Transit In Durgapur | Watch’Will Not Abandon Mamata’: Shatrughan Sinha Rejects Split Talk, Reaffirms Loyalty To ‘Joda Phool’123PhotostoriesInland Taipan changes colour with the seasons: Inside the strange and dramatic seasonal color change explainedIs your child carrying emotional baggage? 6 subtle signs and what parents can do to help“This will help prevent…and improve..” Why did Amit Shah praise this rice varietyShoaib Malik to Glenn Maxwell: 7 international cricketers who married Indian women27-year-old woman shares 5 reasons she doesn’t want to get married earlyNo crowds, no chaos: This remote Himalayan valley in Uttarkhand feels frozen in time5 venomous snakes you’ll only find in Africa and where to spot them5 things fathers should never do and how these mistakes affect a child’s personality5 surprising health benefits of cow gheeFrom MMS scam to sponsors seeking sexual favours: Ranjini Haridas opens up about ill experiences in her career123Hot PicksOpendoor IndiaNitish Kumar SonForm 26ASIND vs AFG Live ScoreDeclan RiceGuru Randhawa gym firingTMC rebel MP listCJP ProtestHow to Watch FIFA world cup highlightsTop TrendingHaryana Gym Owner MurderGuru Randhawa Gym FiringGold Rate TodayFIFA World Cup 2026Delhi Hotel FireSingappen Special ForceCJP ProtestCBSE Class 10 Second Board ResultBengaluru Child DeathKarnataka Murder
In a risky operation on the high seas, Indian Navy safely disposed of an unexploded warhead recovered from the fuel storage compartment of a missile-hit crude oil tanker 50 nautical miles off the Kochi coast.The operation was conducted when the vessel was sailing to Kochi from UAE’s Fujairah, the defence ministry said on Thursday.The Navy responded when the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Olympic Life reported an explosion on its port side aft at 09.45 UTC (3.15pm IST) on May 26 while sailing around 60 nautical miles east of Oman, as per UK Maritime Trade Operations data.It is still not known who fired the missile.While reporting about the unexploded ordnance, MT Olympic Life, which can carry roughly two million barrels of crude oil, continued towards Kochi. MoD said there was no Indian among the crew.The Navy team adopted a deliberate and phased approach to ensure the safety of the ship, its crew and surrounding port infrastructure.
Projectile penetrated vessel’s hull, was lodged in fuel tank
On receiving the information, the Navy initiated a coordinated response. Kochi-based Southern Naval Command deployed a specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team for detailed assessment, the ministry said. The team confirmed that a projectile had penetrated the vessel’s hull, traversed multiple structural compartments and was lodged inside the fuel tank, it said.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 associated debris. The recovered ordnance has been transported to a secure facility for safe stowage and detailed examination, the Navy said.After the removal of the warhead, the tanker safely arrived at Kochi port on Wednesday, and is currently docked there. All crew members and the tanker are safe.The ministry said the 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.
