The police here have arrested a Filipino national who allegedly stabbed a Russian crew member to death on board a ship which docked in Westport, police and reports said yesterday.

The Filipino allegedly stabbed and killed the Russian chief engineer on the container vessel MV Theodore Storm while it was in international waters off Australia, Bernama said.

The Filipino was arrested when the ship docked at Westport on Saturday and he is being detained, police said.

"The suspect was arrested yesterday. My officer arrested him at the ship there," a Port Klang police officer told AFP , adding the incident had occurred on Tuesday.

Heated argument

Reports said the fight took place soon after the ship left Australia and passed Christmas Island.

Several crew members heard a heated argument in the smoking room of the vessel and found the Russian, 39, identified only by the name Sharonov, unconscious and bleeding, said the New Straits Times .

The crew overpowered the Filipino and ship changed course to Christmas Island but the Russian died before reaching land.

The Filipino, 38, confessed to the ship's captain after an investigation, the newspaper said.