Australian authorities have boarded a vessel which requested assistance on Tuesday morning about 80 kilometres off the Indonesian coast.

In a statement, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said there were 81 people on board who have now been transferred to the HMAS Childers.

Arrangements are now being made to transfer the asylum seekers to Christmas Island.

Authorities say they received telephone calls about 10am (AEST) from a person on board the vessel requesting assistance.

Initial reports suggested the vessel had about 85 people on board.

At 2:00pm, a Customs and Border Protection surveillance aircraft located the vessel, which indicated no visible signs of distress, AMSA said.

Two merchant vessels who responded to an AMSA broadcast requesting assistance have resumed their voyages.

Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection has intercepted another asylum seeker boat north-west of Christmas Island.

A spokesman says seven people were on board and who will be transferred to the island for health and security checks.