The SWIFT response of firemen to attend to an inferno that gutted a fishing vessel at the inner perimeter of the Tema Fishing Harbour prevented it from spreading to adjoining vessels.

The fishing vessel was burnt beyond repairs by the time firefighters from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority rushed to the scene to put out the inferno.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known but eyewitnesses believed that the burnt vessel was hoarding fuel for distribution to other vessels on fishing expeditions when the incident occurred.

No casualty was recorded after the incident.

Some eyewitnesses said they saw smoke emanating from the vessel and called the fire service personnel to the scene.

The Fire and Safety Manager at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Jimmy Nab-Dazie, cautioned fishermen against welding and smoking in the port.

Owners of the vessel were not immediately available to comment on the incident.