WELLINGTON - A South Korean fishing boat in the Southern Ocean has issued a mayday call, saying a fire has broken out on board, three people are missing and three others injured, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said on Wednesday.

The 51-metre Jeong Woo 2 is in the Ross Sea, about 3700 km south-east of New Zealand and 600 km north of McMurdo Station, the RCCNZ said in a statement.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Dave Wilson said, the fire was reported as out of control. Five vessels are responding to the distress call, including the sister ship Jeong Woo 3, which was about 35 minutes away.

The RCCNZ said the Jeong Woo 2 was reported to have a fire on board, and only one viable lifeboat remaining. But other two South Korean fishing vessels (Jeong Woo 3 and Hong Jin 707) are alongside and have evacuated crew from the Jeong Woo 2.

Of the 40 crew known to be on board, at least three have burns and were evacuated by crane. Three more are believed to be missing. The crew is being medically assessed and the rescuing ships plan to transfer injured seamen to the U.S. research vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer, which is steaming north to meet them.

The Nathaniel B. Palmer has suitable medical facilities on board and will sail to McMurdo Base to put the injured seamen ashore.

A number of other vessels are also responding and have been asked to rendezvous with Jeong Woo 3 and the Hong Jin 707 to take on the uninjured crew.

In addition, the weather in the area currently is clear, with light winds, although a low is expected Thursday.

Jeong Woo 2 issued a distress call, which was picked up by Hong Jin 707 and relayed to RCCNZ by the New Zealand vessel Antarctic Chieftain just before 3 a.m. New Zealand local time (14:00 GMT Tuesday).