A Greek aframax/LR2 tanker suffered an interrupted journey after a fire broke out on board after leaving Russia.

Finnish and Estonian rescue officials reported the 108,000-dwt Alexia (built 2009) was hit by the blaze on Thursday, about 18 km south of the Finnish peninsula of Porkkala.

According to the Helsinki Sea Rescue Command Centre, the crew has been able to extinguish the flames.

Tago Trei, chief of operations at the Police and Border Guard Board in Estonia, confirmed the fire was out but said officials were still checking to ensure there was no further danger.

“Fortunately, the people on board were able to put out the fire already before the arrival of assistance, preventing any harm to life and health,” Trei added, according to the Baltic News Service.

Estonia was taking the lead in the rescue operation.

Some reports suggested the ship had lost power, but Greek operator Centrofin said the blaze broke out in a cabin and the ship would shortly resume its journey.

The 250-metre vessel had left the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on 21 September.

The ship was heading for Istanbul in Turkey and was due to arrive on 6 October.

AIS data showed the tanker underway again in the Gulf of Finland on Friday morning.

The Alexia has protection and indemnity insurance through North of England Club.

Inoperative fire alarm

VesselsValue assesses the tanker as worth $36m.

The ship has never failed a port-state-control inspection.

But in March, checks in Turkey revealed two deficiencies.

There were incorrect entries in the rest records for seafarers and the fire detection and alarm system was inoperative.

At its most recent inspection in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in June, there was a fault relating to safety lights and sound signals.