An unmanned Russian resupply vehicle was forced to dock manually with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday due to computer problems, a senior Russian official said.

Carrying cargo ranging from scientific equipment to birthday presents, the Progress M-01, is the first vehicle in its series with upgraded computer facilities and a new on-board digital transmission system.

"During the last stage of docking, a series of problems linked to the automatic approach mode appeared," said Vladimir Solovev, head of the ISS's flight control union, according to news agency reports.

"We brought the engine 30 metres (98 feet) from the station and we gave the crew orders to pass to manual command mode," he said.

The vehicle, which blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 26, was carrying water, scientific equipment as well as personal effects for the ISS crew.