Rescue is on the way for the Russian vessel that has been trapped in thick ice near Antarctica since Tuesday.

A Chinese icebreaker called ‘Snow Dragon’ is enroute, meaning it will not be long before the 74 crew, scientists and tourists onboard the MV Akademik Shokalsky finally make it to dry land.

“Just over my left shoulder you can hopefully see some grey sky, that’s what they call water sky. Basically it means the open water is reflecting on the cloud just above it. That’s the most likely route the Chinese vessel is going to take to get to us,” said Professor of Climate Change at the University of New South Wales, Chris Turney.

After leaving New Zealand on November 28, the ship ran into trouble on Christmas Day.

It got trapped in sea ice frozen around it during a blizzard.

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition onboard is following the route taken by explorer Douglas Mawson a century ago.

Officials say the ship is not in danger of sinking and there are ample supplies for the people on-board.