Many private charter companies offer burial at sea services. A memorial officiant can partake in a burial that will take place while onboard a watercraft. Reviewing the rules that the Environmental Protection Agency has implemented and choosing the method in which the body or ashes will be lowered into the water are two variables associated with the planning of a sea burial.

The Rules

The EPA has a list of rules that must be followed when placing a person's remains into the water. These rules will vary, based on the region where a burial is going to take place. A charter boat or another type of watercraft must be a certain distance away from the shore. In some jurisdictions, a permit will be needed. The permit will grant permission for the memorial service and burial.

A charter company will need to be contacted in advance, to make reservations to have a watercraft transport the deceased person's remains and the people who will be attending the burial. A burial at sea may or may not involve a memorial service.

If space will be limited on a charter boat, guests of a service can attend a memorial that will be held on land. Afterward, the immediate family members of the deceased can board a watercraft and head out to deposit the remains. An officiant can be directed to say some final words about the deceased, prior to the remains being lowered into the water.

The Casket Or Urn

If a casket or urn will be used during a burial, either item will need to be fully biodegradable. This will ensure that either item decomposes within a normal timeframe. If a body is going to be fully immersed in the water, a weighted casket will need to be used. A charter boat may have some pulleys onboard, which can aid in slowly lowering a casket into the water.

It is not essential to use an urn for a person's ashes. Many people prefer to keep an urn as a memento of a deceased person. They may choose to spread an individual's ashes around a watercraft. The pricing that a charter company charges may be reflective of the burial method that is chosen.

Some charter boat companies may only allow the spreading of ashes since this is a fairly common burial method that is utilized within a body of water. Before any plans are made, a charter company's terms of service should be reviewed.

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