Indian Navy Neutralizes Missile on Oil Tanker Near Kochi After Oman Attack

The Indian Navy successfully neutralized a live missile lodged in an oil tanker that had traveled from Fujairah, UAE, to Kochi. The oil tanker, MT Olympic, flying the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Oman on May 26. The missile's warhead did not detonate but penetrated the outer hull of the tanker and became stuck in its fuel tank, which contained a large quantity of crude oil. Despite the attack, the tanker continued its 2,000-kilometer journey to Kochi, where the issue was reported to authorities.

Following the report, the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram initiated action. The Southern Naval Command in Kochi deployed an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to handle the situation. The team conducted a high-risk operation in multiple stages, first identifying and deactivating the missile's explosive system. The warhead and associated debris were then safely removed from the tanker's fuel tank.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on June 11 that no Indian nationals were aboard the tanker. The Navy's operation prevented a potential disaster that could have caused significant damage to the ship, its crew, and the port.

Key Points

• Indian Navy neutralized a live missile in an oil tanker that arrived in Kochi from Fujairah, UAE.
• The tanker was attacked near Oman on May 26, but the missile failed to detonate.
• The missile's warhead was lodged in the tanker's fuel tank, which contained crude oil.
• The Navy's EOD team safely removed the warhead after a high-risk operation.
• No Indian nationals were aboard the tanker, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.