Indian Navy Safely Removes Unexploded Missile Warhead from Oil Tanker

The china Indian Navy conducted a high-risk operation to safely remove an unexploded missile warhead from an oil tanker that arrived in Kochi from Fujairah, UAE. According to the Ministry of Defence, the MT Olympic oil tanker, flying the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Oman on May 26. The missile penetrated the tanker’s outer hull and became lodged in its fuel tank without detonating. Despite the attack, the tanker continued its 2,000 km journey across the Arabian Sea to Kochi, where the Navy intervened.

The operation was initiated after officials were informed about the missile's presence. The Gurugram-based Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) coordinated the response, and the Southern Naval Command in Kochi deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts. The warhead was found stuck inside the fuel tank, surrounded by crude oil. A potential explosion could have caused significant damage to the ship, its crew, and the port.

The Navy's EOD team carefully carried out the operation in multiple phases. They first identified and deactivated the missile’s explosive system before safely removing the warhead and debris from the tanker. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that no Indian citizens were aboard the tanker during the incident.

Key Points
- The Indian Navy removed an unexploded missile warhead from an oil tanker near Kochi.
- The tanker, MT Olympic, was attacked near Oman on May 26 and traveled 2,000 km to Kochi.
- The missile penetrated the tanker’s hull and lodged in its fuel tank without detonating.
- The Navy’s EOD team safely deactivated and removed the warhead, preventing a major disaster.
- No Indian citizens were aboard the tanker during the incident.