Two seafarers have been killed by gunfire on a tanker in Argentina, and another seafarer is under arrest on suspicion of shooting them.

Police said Carlos Lima, 52, shot dead the master and first officer of the 17,000-dwt Ayane (built 2010) on Friday off the coast of Buenos Aires, MercoPress reported.

The dead men were named as captain Alejandro Daniel Garcia, 39, and first officer Juan Alfonso Pegasano, 48.