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In regard to burial at sea, this is a bit complex. Your family will need to apply for a licence in order to go ahead, taking steps to make sure that the paperwork, boat and coffin all meet the official requirements.

There are five places that have been approved for burial at sea in the UK. In England and Wales, the preferred locations are:

1. Off The Needles, Isle of Wight
2. Off Tynemouth, North Tyneside
3. Between Hastings and Newhaven 

There are two locations currently approved for burial at sea in Scotland:

1. 210 miles west of Oban
2. 15 miles west of John O’Groats

A licence for a burial at sea in one of these locations costs £50.

You can also apply for a sea burial somewhere else, but you’ll be charged £175 for the licence, and you’ll need to prove that it is suitable. Things like currents, the depth of the water, potential pipelines and fishing in the area can all make a difference.

If you intend to be cremated, then burial at sea is not as difficult, but there are still regulations. 

• The mortal remains should be packed initially in a strong re-enforced paper bag of sufficient gauge to prevent tearing or laceration. The bag should then be placed in a rectangular casket made of either softwood or veneered chipboard. A nameplate may be affixed to the casket, but it must be easily detachable at the moment of committal.
• To ensure that it will sink immediately it is committed to the sea; the casket must be neatly drilled with holes of not less than I/2 in. diameter in the bottom and on both sides below the lid. It should be weighted inside with heavy metal to achieve a total weight of 7 kgs for a casket of approximate dimension 250mm x l75mm x l25mm and pro rata for a larger casket. To prevent damage in transit the content, including the weights, should be packed to prevent movement and the removable lid, or bottom, should be fastened with countersunk screws (ferrous metal, e.g. not brass) of not less than 1 in. in length.
• In order to ensure the dignity of the Committal at Sea the regulations have to be strictly adhered to. Caskets which do not fulfil the above criteria will regrettably be returned in order for them to be modified.
• Salt caskets are also acceptable for containing ashes, but due to their inherent fragile nature they are required to be delivered in person by the family or their agent, i.e. not through the post.
• If you were a Ganges Boy, then following a service at Shotley Church, your ashes can be taken out by a local harbour boat and scattered in the Orwell or Stour, but they have to meet the requirements as above.

If you want a Pussers scattering of ashes at sea, arrangements can be made for a ceremony, which includes a short religious service to be carried out at Spithead Portsmouth at a point near to Spitbank Fort. Committals are conducted by a Naval Chaplain from a Fleet Tender on Wednesday afternoons. Should mourners wish to attend they would be very welcome, however, they are restricted in numbers and ages. The costs of the provision of a casket and the transportation of the ashes to this office are the responsibility of the Executors/Next of Kin. The ensuing services are at Naval expense. Again the requirements above have to be met. So, should you wish to discuss this with the family before you make arrangements in your will, it is a good idea to know what the requirements are beforehand. 

I have more information and if your family decide on this then they can contact me nearer the time should you cross the bar. 

The Bish