Police were still searching late yesterday for three crew members who fled a Korean fishing ship on Monday afternoon.
Southern Ocean left Bluff yesterday afternoon without the crew members.
A police spokeswoman said the ship had returned to its normal service.
It docked on Monday with the body of a Chinese national, who died after he was injured while in the Southern Ocean.
Detective Sergeant Dave Kennelly, of Invercargill, said police were still looking for the crew members and wanted anyone with any information relating the three men to contact police.
Police were working with other authorities, including South Port to locate the men.
It is thought they were still in the port area.
Police understood the Chinese man died and a second crewman was moderately injured while working on the boat on November 20, Det Sgt Kennelly said.
It is thought the two men and three others, who were unharmed, were swept overboard while trying to clear ice off the boat's funnel.
Police were investigating the death on behalf of the coroner and it was not a criminal investigation.
The incident occurred in international waters but as New Zealand was the closest country there was an obligation to investigate it, he said.
A Maritime New Zealand spokesman said it would be
supporting the police investigation and provide extra staff if needed.
MNZ would also investigating whether New Zealand had any jurisdiction regarding the incident.
