A South Korean fishing boat has been stranded by ice in the Antarctic sea but no casualties have been reported with help from the country's icebreaker already on the way, the maritime ministry said Saturday.

The 62-ton "Sun Star" sent a distress call late Friday after an 862-ton ship from the same company failed to pull the ship out of heavy ice in the polar region, the ministry said.

The ship's 39 crewmembers, including seven South Korean sailors, have been ordered to evacuate to the larger company vessel, Costa, with only five of the crew currently remaining on the Sun Star.

The South Korean icebreaker Araon is now heading toward the site and is expected to reach the stranded ship later in the day, the ministry said. (Yonhap)