An oil tanker is on fire in the Baltic Sea off the coast of northeastern Germany, Germany’s Maritime Search and Rescue Service said on Friday, as a major operation is underway.
All seven crew members of the 73-meter-long Annika have been rescued and no environmental damage has been caused so far, the Ministry of the Environment in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said.
It added that no injuries were reported, contradicting previous media reports.
The ship was reportedly carrying 640 tons of heavy fuel oil when a fire broke out on board early Friday.
It is currently anchored in the Mecklenburg Bay between Kühlungsborn and Warnemünde and connected to a tugboat, rescue services said.
Helicopters were also on their way to the tanker carrying firefighting teams, while three ships are said to have started fighting the blaze.
Black smoke from the burning ship is reportedly visible all the way to the coast.
The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies has taken over the rescue operation. Further details, such as the cause of the fire, are not yet known.
