Chennai, Oct 12 (IANS): The Indian Coast Guard took into custody a vessel flying a Sierra Leone flag and found on the high seas under mysterious circumstances and brought it to Tuticorin port for investigation, an officer said.

The vessel was taken into custody Friday night.

"Investigation is on. Our patrol vessel found the ship yesterday (Friday) and later brought it to Tuticorin port," an Indian Coast Guard official told IANS over phone from Tuticorin, about 600 km from the state capital.

Preliminary information indicated the ship had a total of 10 crew, of which eight are Indian and two Ukranian, the Coast Guard official said.

Sierra Leone is a West African country.

Queried about the presence of arms or ammunition on the foreign ship, the official said he had no information in that regard.

An Internet search showed Seaman Guard belongs to an American company, AdvanFort, specialising in maritime security against pirates.