Mangalore:
Panic gripped the crew of a cargo ship after one of its containers loaded with chemicals caught fire about 50 nautical miles off Mangalore on Saturday but no one was hurt in the incident, Coast Guard officials said.
Liberia flagged 'MV Cap Norte' was on way to Mundra with 24 crew members on board when the fire broke out, following which the vessel's captain sent a distress message to Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Mumbai seeking help, they said.
Immediately after receiving the message, Coast Guard Fast Patrol vessel ICGS Savitribai Phule sailed off to render assistance and reached the area at around 1 pm, the Coast Guard said in a release issued here.
The merchant vessel was carrying about 15 ton polyamide sulphide.
The ship crew extinguished the fire themselves and the situation was under control, the release said.
"All persons on board are safe. Fire was observed only in cargo containers," it said.
Of the 24 crew members, two belonged to Greece, five from The Philippines, three from Poland, one each from Germany and UK and 12 from Tuvalu.