Burial at sea is the act of discarding the remains of a human body in an approved disposal site of an ocean, often the disposal is done from a ship or boat. This form of burial is often performed by navies and is also done by private citizens in different countries.
The burial may occur in different forms such as burial in a casket, burial in an urn, or scattering of the cremated remains from a ship. There is also another type of burial at sea which involves mixing the ashes with concrete and dropping off the concrete block to form an artificial reef.
Why Does Planning Ahead Matters For Burial at Sea?
No one knows what tomorrow holds as none of us has a total guarantee to be alive tomorrow. Planning ahead of a burial is a smart way that can make a difference and make things easy for us before, during and after the burial process.
Planning ahead is a thoughtful way of preventing anxieties that might happen in the future. It involves taking the time to map out plans about how you want your burial at sea to be. Families are often emotionally imbalanced during a time of loss and this may result in making some mistakes during the time of planning for a burial. By planning ahead, you can prevent stress, avoid disappointment, and cut down on spending excess money.
Reasons to Plan Ahead of a Burial at Sea.
With the increase in cremation rate around the world, many people are now interested in burying their loved ones at sea as a preferred way of paying their last honor. However, there are problems that can arise during the process of burial but a prior proper planning can avert the problems and make the burial process happen without any hitch.
- It Prevents Problems With Your State Law Agency
Different countries have rules for regulating what goes into territorial waters and in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for that. Water bodies within the United States are usually regulated by the state governments (but not always).
Planning ahead gives you ample time to gather information on the position of the law regarding burial at sea. Before finalizing your plans for the burial, you have to consult the agency in charge of your state water bodies to get a detailed information in order to prevent you from going against the law.
- Get Ready Materials Needed For The Burial
As we all know, materials such as plastics and metals are not biodegradable and as such may cause pollution of the water bodies. Regardless of the site you’re burying the remains, avoid using materials that won’t break down in water.
While planning, ensure you get urns or other materials you’ll need that can be broken down when exposed to water. The same thing goes for the flowers and lanterns you might be using for the burial purpose. By all means, ensure the materials you’ll be disposing at the sea won’t cause pollution of the water body.
- Planning Helps To Avoid Unfavorable Weather Conditions
Imagine a scenario where you try to scatter the ashes at the sea only for the wind to blow the ashes away, that could be messed up right? One thing to plan along before and during the burial is to be able to predict the weather condition during that period. It might get stormy at the sea and it might be difficult to predict the direction of the storm. However, planning ahead gives the opportunity to wait until there is favorable weather condition and to also prepare for any wind-related problems that may arise.
- Check the Condition of All Necessary Equipment
Another major reason to prepare ahead is to ensure that all the equipment you will need is in a good condition. This will help to avoid any form of disappointment on that day. Ensure you get all necessary equipment ready and in a good condition, the scissors, the cremation urn (ensure the urn is easy to open and also have a tight lid to avoid any form of accidental spillage)
Also, the planning stage involves you having personal plans for yourself and the guests. Put on appropriate wears because it might get windy during the journey, also, if you’re airsick or seasick ( in case you’re using a boat or ship) it’s advisable to take your medication before the journey.
There are other unforeseen circumstances that may occur and are not covered in this post. Nevertheless, having plans ahead of a burial at the sea will ensure you avert as many problems as possible. There is no better time to prepare for a war than before the war.
On a final note, asides from the reasons mentioned above, planning ahead of a burial put your mind at rest, save your unwarranted stress and help you to cut costs on excess.
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