The 52 passengers rescued from a Russian expedition vessel that became stuck in an Antarctic ice floe over the holidays have reached Australia safe and sound.

Thick ice and weather will prevent icebreakers from reaching the stricken MV Akademik Shokalskiy expedition ship stuck in ice off Antarctica, forcing a helicopter rescue for the passengers of the stricken vessel.

Severe Antarctic weather was slowing an Australian icebreaker's bid to reach a Russian ship trapped in ice since Christmas eve with 74 people onboard, the Australian maritime rescue agency said on Monday.