The captain and two officers from a Grimaldi Group car carrier have appeared in court in Spain in an arson case.
Spanish media said officers from Palma went to Valencia on Friday to arrest the trio from the 3,320-lane-metre Grande Europa (built 1998), which suffered a major fire 40 kilometres (25 miles) off Palma de Majorca on 13 May with 1,843 vehicles on board.
The Ultima Hora daily reported that the three Italians, from Naples, appeared in court on Saturday in Valencia.
All three strongly deny the accusation.
Las Provincias reported that the judge has released few details of the case.
The report said the case has been transferred to Palma de Majorca.
Bail was set at €9,000 ($10,100) for the master and €5,000 each for the two officers.
Italy's Corriere della Sella named one of the men as third officer Cristian Porritiello, 28.
Grimaldi cooperating
Grimaldi Group told the newspaper: "We are following the...investigations to which we are providing the maximum cooperation.
"With regards to any investigated persons, we express the obligatory caution and the hope that the position will be clarified as soon as possible."
It added: "At the same time, we want to emphasise the serious damage that we ourselves have suffered on Grande Europa."
Grimaldi Group said last month the major blaze on the ship was likely to have been caused by batteries in two new cars onboard, fuelling concerns over the risks posed by cargoes of hybrid and electric vehicles.
The flames were quickly put out and the crew made safe.
In the wake of the blaze, the Italian shipowner said: “Preliminary investigations of the Grimaldi Group suggest that the two fires started from two different new vehicles stowed on board, and then spread to the other nearby units.”
