A vessel transporting over 100 passengers has been cast adrift in waters near the coast of Indonesia's eastern island of Sulawesi.

"The ship has not sunk," said South Sulawesi police spokesman Frans Barung.

Port authorities said contact with the boat was lost after its engine broke down in stormy seas.

According to a report by news site Detik.com, the incident took place on Saturday for the ship, which was on its way from Kolaka,on the southeastern side of the island, to South Sulawesi.

"The ship had 122 people on board. The team from our headquarters ... all that we have, we are deploying there but we're facing high waves," Barung said.

There has been no mention of casualties so far.