Generations ago, when deaths occurred on the high seas, bodies were routinely thrown overboard. Storage and decomposition were a problem. Today people choose to be buried at sea for a variety of reasons. Ocean burials fall under the Environmental Protection Agency's jurisdiction. If a loved one has a favorite pond, lake, or river under consideration, contacting state and local authorities is necessary. The burial at sea Florida ocean enthusiasts stipulate is not always easy.
First of all, you have to go far enough away from land that the casket or ashes don't end up drifting onto shore. Three nautical miles is the minimum distance acceptable. Six hundred feet is the minimum depth requirement. Florida is one exception that requires three times that depth in certain areas. You have to keep in mind that the outer continental shelf may make it necessary to go out much farther to reach water that deep.
If you are burying a casket in the sea, there are a number of federal regulations you must follow. No plastics are allowed. There must to be at least six holes drilled into the casket to make sure it sinks, and some extra weight might have to be added. Stainless steel chains have to be wrapped around the casket to ensure that it stays on the ocean bottom.
Cremated remains being buried at sea don't have as many requirements as interring a casket. You still need to go out three nautical miles, but you don't have to worry about how deep the water is. If you decide you want to scatter the ashes from a plane, you need to find a company that has plenty of experience. The wind could blow the ashes back into the plane.
You can take your own boat out with the casket or ashes, but it is usually a better idea to hire a service that is in the sea burial business. Otherwise, you will have to invest in some heavy equipment to lift the casket high enough to get it over the side of the boat and far enough away not to capsize the vessel. If you try to charter a boat, you'll have the same issues.
Burying someone in the ocean may seem like an economical way to go, but in fact, it often turns out to be more expensive than a land burial. You have transportation costs to get the casket out to a pier or airport. After that you have to go out far enough to meet the length and depth requirements of the EPA.
If you or your loved one is a navy veteran or honorably discharged from the navy, it is possible to have an official service aboard a naval vessel. The ceremony is overseen by the Naval Mortuary Affairs Office. Family members and civilian personnel in the Military Sealift Command also qualify.
If you have a loved one that has requested a sea burial, you can fulfill that wish. Preparation, phone calls, and documentation will be necessary however. The effort will be worth it if you know you are making a last wish a reality.
First of all, you have to go far enough away from land that the casket or ashes don't end up drifting onto shore. Three nautical miles is the minimum distance acceptable. Six hundred feet is the minimum depth requirement. Florida is one exception that requires three times that depth in certain areas. You have to keep in mind that the outer continental shelf may make it necessary to go out much farther to reach water that deep.
If you are burying a casket in the sea, there are a number of federal regulations you must follow. No plastics are allowed. There must to be at least six holes drilled into the casket to make sure it sinks, and some extra weight might have to be added. Stainless steel chains have to be wrapped around the casket to ensure that it stays on the ocean bottom.
Cremated remains being buried at sea don't have as many requirements as interring a casket. You still need to go out three nautical miles, but you don't have to worry about how deep the water is. If you decide you want to scatter the ashes from a plane, you need to find a company that has plenty of experience. The wind could blow the ashes back into the plane.
You can take your own boat out with the casket or ashes, but it is usually a better idea to hire a service that is in the sea burial business. Otherwise, you will have to invest in some heavy equipment to lift the casket high enough to get it over the side of the boat and far enough away not to capsize the vessel. If you try to charter a boat, you'll have the same issues.
Burying someone in the ocean may seem like an economical way to go, but in fact, it often turns out to be more expensive than a land burial. You have transportation costs to get the casket out to a pier or airport. After that you have to go out far enough to meet the length and depth requirements of the EPA.
If you or your loved one is a navy veteran or honorably discharged from the navy, it is possible to have an official service aboard a naval vessel. The ceremony is overseen by the Naval Mortuary Affairs Office. Family members and civilian personnel in the Military Sealift Command also qualify.
If you have a loved one that has requested a sea burial, you can fulfill that wish. Preparation, phone calls, and documentation will be necessary however. The effort will be worth it if you know you are making a last wish a reality.
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