A ferry, with around 350 people on board, traveling between the Papua New Guinea (PNG) coastal towns of Kimbe and Lae is believed to have sunk, local media reported on Thursday.

About 8.30am (AEDT), the ferry between Lae and Kimbe West sent a distress signal, PNG's National Maritime Safety Authority said.

"The reports have come back on that, we're getting reports," a spokesperson said.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said shipping company Star Ships lost contact with the MV Rabaul Queen Thursday morning.