Burial at Sea

[Peter_the_Grate]

I recently drafted a Will and my solicitor suggested I might like to include instructions about the manner of the disposal of my mortal remains, as well as my estate. I want to be buried at sea - somewhere off the Needles actually. Does anyone know if there are rules about burial at sea?

(({

 

[tony_brighton]

Depends on the state of your mortal remains.
If its ashes then I think you are OK.
As a general rule I think you aren't allowed to dispose of bodies within territorial waters.

 

[rogerroger]

hey - there's enough rubbish around the Needles without you adding to it ! And think, when the tide is right you'll probably wash up in Yarmouth... ;-)

It's illegal - or you certainly need special permission (from whom I don't know) - far easier to be cremated and have your ashes scattered at sea.

Anyway - thanks for that post, let's talk about death - in a really good mood now...



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Dreamers]

My great uncle was buried at sea some 20 years ago off the Sussex coast. He was actually cremated and his ashes were scattered by either one of the local fisherman or by the Littlehampton RNLI crew. Can't remember the details but it was quite straight forward. Don't think there was any option for a 'whole body' job though. Local undertaker organised it if I remember rightly.

 

[JeremyF]

My dad thought that as a Naval officer he was entitled to body burial at sea, but its not been the case for 50 years apparently.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[rogerroger]

solution...

1. dig very large hole in garden
2. fill with water
3. chuck in a few buckets of salt (if recreating the Solent then add a shopping trolley, a few condoms and a colostomy bag for effect).
4. Remove anchor from boat and tie round neck
5. jump in.

You'll be dead - so you'll never know the difference.


Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[steffen]

Re: solution...

Fantastic reply, great fun.

Happy sailing

 

[robp]

Gawd what a morbid subject! Would have thought the lawyer be the best one to ask. If it is achievable with a coffin, (which it probably isn't in 3 miles), ask em to watch out for the Varvassi (spelling?), or some hapless R.T. Islanders will get a nasty surprise when they snag it.

 

[Guest]

Re: Read MBY this month

There's a very fine article in Motor Boat & Yachting June 2002 issue on how to conduct a burial at sea. You really should read it.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Given your 'handle' sounds as if you've no objections to cremation, in which case no real problem. Seem to recall reading that the Yarmouth lifeboat crew are regularly called upon to do this. If you want something less pukka, then a quick shake out of the cockpit of your favourite yacht should send you on your last voyage. Or even less formal, from the deck of the Lymington/Yarmouth ferry on a spring ebb should have you in the Needles channel after a half hour's cruise. Of course, you'll end up as part of the Shingles Bank, forever cursed by careless sailors.

 

[Guest]

The original owner of Katoema, a German, had his ashes scattered off Belle Isle, Southern Brittany from Katoema herself as a proper ceremony. I was given the Chart with the position noted upon it.

In essence, Ashes seem to be OK anywhere, but the whole remains may be subject to limitations as to how close to shore you are. On a voyage, some years ago, an elderly lady died aboard the SA Vaal bound for S. Africa. It was very solumn when the engines stopped, but it was the sound of the water tight doors at sea level that sent the shivvers down my spine when they banged close - it was all over. She was, as is normal, bound up in canvas with a stitch through the nose = this will indicate if any one is alive before being committed to the deep, as there is no way back unless you are Houdini.

 

[hlb]

Very easy to get round the rules IMHO. Just wait till you feel like your on your death bed. Get a few mates to take you out to the prefered bit of sea. Then just jump in with a few lumps of iron round your neck. Dont think anyone is going to prosicute you, so no worries!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

My late God Father was buried at sea in a weighted coffin in the Alderney Race a few years ago. Perhaps the authorities there are more accomodating. The fishing boat they went out in to do 'the drop' had engine failure and they were almost run down by a coaster. It all seemed rather apt at the time I am told.

 

[Strathglass]

I have arranged it several years ago. At the wishes of my father in law. He had been a merchant seaman and had served for many years on the Ben Line. There was no lawyers or costs involved. After he was cremated we were given his ashes from the undertaker. I contacted his old employees and they were delighted to perform the task. They sent us a nice letter afterwards saying where and when his ashes were sprinkled and they apparently said a short prayer for him.
Iain

 

[graham]

Ashes are OK to do as you will with.But an actual body Idont know about.

The RNLI lifeboats do regular Ashes scatterings at sea for people.I remember one occasion when the lifeboat near us was performing a scattering The family had floated many wreathes and bunches of flowers along with the ashes.

One of the Pilot boats ,unaware of what was going, on passed close astern at speed churning up the lot.

Personally after spending a lifetime trying not to go in the oggin it seems odd to request it for the afterlife!

 

[LadyInBed]

Go for the Viking version:
Exec puts you in your boat
Adds 3 gallons of paraffin
Casts off, sets sails and A/H
Throw in lit match and jumps clear into safty boat.

Wife claims on insurance.

 

[piratequeen]

I know it's still possible in jersey to be buried at sea because an old fisherman I knew was buried recently (not his ashes, the whole lot).....however, a word of warning:
Several years ago a friend's father was buried at sea, but due to the tides and the relatively shallow waters round here, he popped up on the Normandy coast a couple of weeks later. His body was brought back to Jersey and solemnly re-buried at sea, only for the same thing to happen again. By this time the French authorities had had enough, so he was promptly bunged into the nearest French graveyard with the minimum of ceremony, the only thing is no-one had the heart to tell his widow, so to this day she thinks he was buried at sea.

 

[tonyleigh]

In 1980 my father died and was cremated. We lashed the "urn" to a small iron cross wrought in a local forge. We took it out in a friend's yacht accompanied by the much respected Missions to Seamen padre and as we cleared the landing the Harbour Master's launch fell in in convoy. It was a very simple and very moving experience and everytime I sail in past Black Rock or walk round Pendennis headland I am flooded by memories and they are all cheerful. My father loved swimming and pottered about in a canoe but was not a sailor nor a native of Falmouth. My mother could teach Methusalah a thing or two but when she dies I shall take the first opportunity to sail down to Falmouth and heave-to seawards of Black Rock. The only difference would be I shall ask for a cardboard bio-degradable "urn" rather than use the standard plastic type.
For myself? - I'm far more likely to have fallen overboard - DFO.

 

[Guest]

My father's wish was for his ashes to be scattered on the sea he loved to fish in. However, my father lived on the Isle of Skye, and it was March, so it took over a week before the weather abated enough to get a fishing boat to take us out to a small, rocky island that was his favourite fishing spot. We scattered the ashes, and helped him along with a bottle of Whiskey, half for him, and half for crew and family. Even though my home is in Australia I can always be close to my father's burial ground as there is always a part of him in the oceans.

 

[Viking]

Re: Burial at Sea - Viking Version

Ive always fancied the Viking version.
Wraped in me' storm jib, surround by my old sailing mags. and out of date charts. Push out on an ebbing tide, flaming arrows piecing the evening sky. An orchestra of French Horns playing the theme for the film 'The Vikings' as my wooden tender sailings, glowing down the fjord into the sunset.
Call me an old romantic

In fact all these things are in place. Tender, Fjord, old Mags. Even the French Horns, as my partner plays lead French Horn in a orchestra. But not for along time yet!


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Viking on Tue May 28 08:36:51 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>