OSAKA - A Cambodian-registered cargo ship, with nine crew members including seven Chinese on board, caught fire off the coast of the western Japanese city of Kobe City on Friday according to Japanese maritime authorities.

The fire broke out on the freighter CHUN XING in waters several km south off shore of an artificial Island in Kobe City, at around 9:30 am local time according to Japan Coast Guard.

After the coast guard received a distress call from the 1292 - ton freighter, it dispatched several patrol vessels to put out the blaze on the ship.

There were no immediate reports of injured people.

The coast guard added that the cargo ship, carrying 948 tons of iron scrap, is sailing to Kobe Port while the fire-extinguishing operation is continued.