The return of three Australian protestors who've been held on board a Japanese whaling vessel since Saturday night is expected to take several days.
After tense negotiations, Japan has agreed not to charge the trio and to release them to Australian authorities.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says a customs vessel is now on its way to rendezvous with the Japanese ship.
"The Customs vessel was already on an ocean mission, it wil now need to divert and turn back closer to Australia. It is affected by the weather and our estimates are it will take a number of days."