A Chinese icebreaker boat, which was sent to rescue 74 people trapped on a Russian ship in Antarctica since Christmas Day, has halted its efforts as the ice was too thick.

According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Chinese "Snow Dragon" had reached the ice floe off the coast of Cape de la Motte, and had got about 6.7 nautical miles from the Russian-operated MV Akademik Shokalskiy, but called off the mission later, Fox News reports.

The Russian ship is not in danger of sinking as of now, and there are ample supplies and food for those aboard.

Meanwhile, another ice breaker ship, the Aurora Australis, with better capabilities than the Chinese vesselis, has headed towards the Shokalskiy and is expected to arrive over the weekend, the report added.

According to the report, the Russian vessel got stuck after whipping winds pushed the sea ice around the ship, freezing it in place.