A livestock carrier ship with a crew that includes two Australians has sent a distress call near Japan amid heavy rains and winds caused by a typhoon, according to reports.

The Japanese Coast Guard is searching for the Gulf Livestock 1, which issued a distress signal about 1.20am local time on Wednesday. It was in the East China Sea, west of the Amami Oshima island in south-western Japan, according to national broadcaster NHK.

The ship is believed to have 43 crew members, comprised of two Australians, 2 New Zealanders, and 39 Filipinos, according to Kyodo News.

Japan's coast guard and Maritime Self-Defence Force launched a search party and found a lifeboat with one Filipino male crew member aboard.

Heavy winds and rain from Typhoon Maysak have slowed the rescue operation for the ship, which was reportedly heading to China from New Zealand with 5800 head of cattle.

Staff reporters