Ship catches fire off Victorian coast

A ship carrying grain has caught fire off the coast of Victoria.

Fire crews were called to reports of smoke billowing from a livestock carrier in Portland, on Victoria's southwest coast, on Tuesday night, the Country Fire Authority said.

A silo filled with 800 tonnes of grain caught fire on the ship, which had no livestock onboard at the time, and crews remain at the scene to keep control of the blaze.

A CFA spokeswoman said the grain may have self combusted but the cause will be investigated.