The bodies of five seamen who died when a Korean ship sank in the Southern Ocean earlier this month arrived at Bluff on Thursday night.
Police say the 20 survivors of the incident were also on board and will be interviewed on Friday before arrangements can be made for them to return home early next week.
The chief coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, is in charge of investigating the deaths, assisted by Inspector Olaf Jensen.
He says Korean officials along with the Transport Accident Investigation Commission are also in Bluff to carry out their own inquiries.
Police say 17 other people believed to be on board the ship when it sank are still missing and are now presumed dead. They say the survivors are lucky to be alive.
