 reeves lk  | 06 May 2013 11:20 a.m. PST |
What are the rules on this? I have always wonder who regulates burial at sea. |
| haywire | 06 May 2013 11:23 a.m. PST |
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| Ron W DuBray | 06 May 2013 11:56 a.m. PST |
Happens all the time ether by accident or just dumping bodies. A lot are spading of ashes. |
| vaughan | 06 May 2013 12:52 p.m. PST |
This is a site for UK burials, I'm sure other countries have similar. There are apparently quite strict rules (well UK and Europe, but no doubt others do as well).
link |
| vtsaogames | 06 May 2013 1:27 p.m. PST |
My grandfather was in the merchant marine and made the Murmansk Run twice during WWII. He wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread in the ocean. There's an organization called the Neptune Society that does just that. About ten years or so back I stood in the stern of a large motorboat and spread his ashes in heavy seas. I believe the US rules specify beyond the three-mile limit. |
 Parzival | 06 May 2013 2:17 p.m. PST |
" The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works."— Revelation 20:13 Seemed a rather fitting quote. But as for the regulations, etc., since beyond territorial waters there is no regulation aside from international maritime law, the main concern would probably be obtaining permission to remove a corpse from the jurisdiction of whatever authority is in place. AFAIK in the US there is no restriction on scattering ashes at sea (or in a lake, for that matter), at least at a federal level. State or local laws might apply.
IANAL, of course! |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 06 May 2013 3:53 p.m. PST |
Ashes are one thing; entire bodies are another. |
| Sergeant Paper | 06 May 2013 4:02 p.m. PST |
We let my dad's ashes go from a helicopter, eight miles out. I like to think I can go visit him on any beach in the world. |
| Parzival | 06 May 2013 4:11 p.m. PST |
A quick google turned up several US companies that claim to perform this service in compliance with federal, state and local laws. Here's one, with general information about their services: link So it appears the answer is "Yes." It also appears that the answer continues with, "… if you have the money to pay for it." |
| SECURITY MINISTER CRITTER | 06 May 2013 6:31 p.m. PST |
When I was in, we did two consignments, but it was cremains only. We lost 3 Marines on several deployments, but they were shipped home. |
| Waco Joe | 06 May 2013 7:02 p.m. PST |
If I was going to go down that route I think I would opt for the cremation/memorial reef option. eternalreefs.com Cast you in concrete and then you become part of the environment. |
 enfant perdus | 06 May 2013 7:03 p.m. PST |
In international waters, there should be no restrictions. If you can host a monkey knife fight, you can certainly bury someone at sea. |
 20thmaine | 07 May 2013 5:35 a.m. PST |
eternal reefs looks kinda cool – shame theere isn't something like this in the UK (or…is there ?) |
| 20thmaine | 07 May 2013 5:37 a.m. PST |
Yay – it's in Dorset. link |
 etotheipi  | 07 May 2013 9:30 a.m. PST |
Bury me at sea
Where no murdered ghost can haunt me
If I rock up on the waves
Then no corpse can lie upon me Let me go, boys
Let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry -If I Should Fall From Grace With God, the Pogues |
| 138SquadronRAF | 08 May 2013 12:56 p.m. PST |
From the ex-RN may turned folk singer Cyril Tawney: SIX FEET OF MUD Roll on the drums, oh! me time has come
Let's get it over with before I start to hum in
Six feet of mud, six feet of mud,
Nine fathoms of water and six feet of mud. Haul down the flag and sew up the bag
One consolation-the wife can't nag me in
Six feet, etc. Fire the last salute and slide me down the chute
But don't send me overboard in me tiddly suit into
Six feet, etc. Sound the last post and pray for me ghost
For in three day's time I'll be washed up on the coast
from Six feet, etc. There's a billet to let and I hope you don't forget
To break the news to Greenburgh's I'm in Crown debt
in Six feet, etc. In a year on this tub it's me first green rub
And there ain't a man among you can do me a sub
in Six feet. etc. I said to the doc "It's a race against the clock
'Cos in three hours time we'll be in dry dock
without the Six feet, etc.- |
| John the Confused | 08 May 2013 4:59 p.m. PST |
Beimg buried at see makes it difficult for your enemies to dance on your grave. |
 Condor | 12 Jun 2013 8:33 a.m. PST |
I'm going to be part of a reef ball someday. That's a fitting end for a true scuba diver. |
| skinkmasterreturns | 23 Jun 2013 6:32 a.m. PST |
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| Great War Ace | 23 Jun 2013 5:55 p.m. PST |
If ashes are what is permissible, why not go like Einar, by fire arrow on a pitch-soaked longship?… |
| Jemima Fawr | 24 Jun 2013 8:16 a.m. PST |
I knew of an RAF Padre who scattered ashes upon the runway threshold, so that they could be scattered by (or ingested and spat back out by) Phantoms on re-heat! Hardly anyone knew that he did it – not even the Station Commander. He knew that if he'd asked permission, someone would have said 'No'. I'm sure I'm not alone among ex-Crabs in thinking that I might like to become FOD after my death. :o) |
