A rescue ship is on its way to help nearly 300 passengers aboard a Norwegian cruise ship stranded offshore a remote Antarctic island, officials said Wednesday.

The M/S Nordkapp ran aground and damaged its hull close to Deception Island, near the South Shetland archipelago. The cruise ship now awaits its sister ship, the M/S Nordnorge, in Walker Bay.

No one was injured in the mishap, and cruise officials said the passengers were not in danger.

Norwegian Coastal Voyage spokeswoman, Hanne K. Kristiansen, said rescue crews may have to wait until strong winds ease before beginning the transfer of passengers.

"For the passengers' comfort, we will wait," Kristiansen said.

The Nordnorge will then travel to the passengers' planned destination of Ushuaia, Argentina.

The Nordkapp, measuring 123 metres long, was built in 1996 and sails the Antarctic during the southern hemisphere summer. Company officials said a British warship is also en route and will send divers to survey the damage before accompanying the ship to port in Argentina.

With files from the Associated Press