A fire broke out last night on container vessel Charlotte Maersk, 41 nautical miles off the coast of Kuala Selangor, but the blaze has been controlled.

NONE Malaysian Rescue Sub-Centre Johor (MRSC) senior investigative officer Lieutenant Commander Salehuddin Zakaria said, "We received an early warning about the fire at 9.50pm last night. However, at 5am today we came to know that the situation had worsened."

According to him, a rescue team consisting of one Bombardier firefighting airplane and four vessels were immediately sent to the scene.

"At the moment, the fire is under control but we are worried there may still be embers around the cargo area," he added.

When contacted by Malaysiakini , Salehuddin also disclosed that all 21 crew members on board the vessel are safe and have not been evacuated.

He added that the fire only affected the container storage area of the vessel, which is carrying various goods.

azlan According to Seatrade Asia Online , the fire started in a container carrying dangerous goods.

The report also confirmed that the vessel has initiated fire fighting procedures and the priority now is to assist the vessel in extinguishing the fire and ensure the safety of the crew.

The cause of the fire and extent of damages, however, could not be confirmed at press time.

There are no reports of any injuries to crew members or pollution.

The vessel's engines and thrusters are understood as remaining operational, according to the report.

The 110,000-tonne Denmark-flagged Charlotte Maersk is owned by AP Moller and built in 2002. She set sail from Port Klang and was bound for Salalah, Oman.