A Chinese icebreaker that was en route to rescue a ship trapped in Antarctic ice was forced to turn back on Saturday after being unable to push its way through the heavy sea ice.

The Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been on a research expedition to Antarctica, got stuck on Tuesday after a blizzard's winds pushed sea ice around the ship, freezing it in place.

Expedition leader Chris Turney said Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon was still in sight, but it is now waiting for another icebreaker to help it break through ice.

"It's about seven nautical miles away, but it's basically waiting now for one of the other icebreaker vessels, the Australian vessel Aurora Australis to come and help support. Together the two, we're hoping, will be able to break in," said Turney in an interview with British broadcaster Sky News.

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition scientific team on board of the vessel, which had been recreating Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's voyage to Antarctica 100 years ago, are keeping themselves busy.

"The skill sets of different people are amazing, today we had knot tying lessons with rope, that was fantastic, and along side that some of the science and research programmes measuring temperatures in the ocean and trying to drop a coin to the seabed," said Turney.

"So lots of things but there are shocking rumours of choir practice in a couple of days so I hope we get out before then."

The Snow Dragon icebreaker, which was forced to retreat, had to do so to avoid mirroring MV Akademik Shokalskiy's fate - according to an Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson.

The scientists are set to continue their research after they are freed.

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