As many as 538 passengers, 75 crew members and 293 vehicles are on board the ferry, the AMNA news agency reported on Saturday.
The fire broke out shortly after the ferry's departure from the port to Venice. The vessel immediately returned to the port at 05:20 GMT to facilitate the evacuation of people, the agency said.
The fire has promptly been brought under control, as automatic fire suppression systems of the ship went off immediately when the blaze started.