Burial at sea is the disposal of the remains of the dead usually from a ship or boat into the sea. It is also a means of final disposition of remains and is mostly done by the navies. There have been cases where a family would have to follow the wish of their dead loved one to be buried at sea. If the deceased wish ends up being carried out that does not mean the sea will fulfill the end of the bargain.

The family might just deposit the body for permanent rest in the sea but there is a possibility that the body might float offshore where it has been deposited. To avoid something like this there are instructions on how to properly bury your loved one at sea. 

Firstly, all necessary permissions must be gotten from the local authorities for burying intact remains at sea. The body should be placed in a metal casket of four times the weight of the deceased body. The body should be taken three nautical miles out to sea and placed 600 ft deep or 1800 ft deep depending on the area. 

The family may also wish to put flower and wreaths but these must be able to decompose and can be placed at the sight of burial.

Things You May Not Know About Burial at Sea

It is necessary to know that anyone can be buried at sea.  Although most people buried at sea are deceased sailors or navy personnel. The person being buried must not undergo any form of embalmment and must be wrapped in a light biodegradable clothing.

The sea is very large, it really is, but this does not mean that you can go to any part of the sea to deposit the remains of the deceased. It must be done somewhere where there is a little risk of the body returning to the shore as a result of strong currents or disturbance by fishing nets for commercial purposes.

If you’re considering burial at sea, this article discusses top 5 reasons you should consider before making a final decision.

Top 5 Reasons Why Burial at Sea is Good for You

1. Sea burials are cheaper compared to other types of burial. In some places, burial ceremonies have become a burden to most families especially the poor ones. In places where burial land is scarce, the land burial is money consuming.

A party has to be thrown for the dead, food and drinks have to be served at the party. Souvenirs are even given out to appreciate the guests for coming. An expensive car and coffin are used to carry the dead to its final resting place which has to be maintained either monthly or yearly depending on the family.

Other forms of burial like cryonics, space burial and plastination also involve a lot of expenses. But in sea burial, one’s family is not bothered about the expenses, a grave or headstone are not required and the process of embalming is not also involved.

2. The second reason is its simplicity. In burial at sea, the need for an elaborate traditional ground ceremony is removed. It is really a simple way of burying the dead loved ones. 

3. The third reason is a concern for the environment. The traditional ground burial consumes a lot of space in the earth and most of the times have to do with a heavy dose of chemicals (in cases when the body is embalmed). In places like the Philippines where land is scarce, burial at sea might be the right option for them. 

4. Burial at sea is very flexible. In a situation whereby a casket will have to be transported from the cemetery to its resting place, the cremated ashes which are stored in an urn and taken to the sea to be scattered is much easier and time-saving.

5. Lastly, burial at sea prevents the case where a site or place where one has been buried to be abandoned. This happens when the family members have traveled out or are long gone and leave the site unkempt and not properly maintained. I have seen some graves with grasses sprouting out of them due to the fact that there is no one to care for such places but in a burial at sea, such a thing does not happen.

On a final note, sea is a very quiet place, it is so peaceful and calm. And it is in this same place that kings, queens, noble men and women, the rich, the poor and commoners are buried and they are all indistinguishable.