The Australian Maritime Safety Authority responded to an emergency distress call at 1.30am on Wednesday for a nine-metre catamaran about 800km southeast of Cairns.

The two Russian men and a French man aboard the vessel had left Vanuatu on their way to Cairns when their boat began to sink following damage to both hulls from several shark attacks, the authority said.

A cargo ship helped retrieve the trio before Cairns-based Challenger Rescue Aircraft arrived at the scene.

The men are expected to arrive in Brisbane on Thursday.

-with AAP