Gardaí launch investigation into cause of fire on MV Alta 'ghost ship' The fire broke out on Thursday evening and now gardaí believe it was started intentionally. By Niall O'Connor Friday 30 Apr 2021, 5:43 PM Fri 5:43 PM 16,373 Views 0 Comments A Fire Fighter surveys the damage on the cliff above the MV Alta. Image: Cork County Council Image: Cork County Council GARDAÍ have launched an investigation into a fire onboard the MV Alta the former ghost ship now on rocks near Ballycotton, Co Cork. Firefighters from Cork County Council fought a blaze that broke out yesterday evening and reported they had substantially extinguished the blaze last night.