A Russian research ship at the centre of an Antarctic rescue drama has broken free from heavy pack ice two weeks after it became trapped.

An Australian icebreaker carrying 52 passengers plucked from an icebound ship in the Antarctic is resuming its journey home after it was halted for a second potential rescue operation.

Passengers on board a research ship trapped in Antarctic ice for a week are pinning their hopes on a helicopter rescue after three icebreakers failed to reach the paralysed vessel.