Logistics And Considerations For A Burial At Sea

By Frank Martin


It is only natural and healthy to view death with equanimity. After all, at most zero percent of the world is guaranteed to survive to posterity. Since posthumous planning is not at all viable, it would do to preemptively plan ones turn. After all, once you snuff it, youll have no more say in the matter. For instance, if Burial At Sea Florida Ocean is your desired resting place, or perhaps that of a loved one, it would do to do the preparations in advance.

All in all, this course may be viewed as schmaltzy and romantic, but one mustnt count the eggs before theyve hatched. After all, all the requirements and logistics may steamroll the best of your intentions and preclude whatever plans you have set. Therefore, it would serve you well to delve into all the particularities before you get to engage in the possibilities.

This kind of service is rife throughout the world. In each location, a different custom is followed, and different rules apply. The commonality is that its carried out either by ship or else by aircraft. A tradition which still holds clout today is that the service is facilitated either by the ships captain or chaplain, or just about any religious representative from the deceaseds religion.

That said, the prevailing idea is that this kind of service and honor is singled out for the uniformed fellows of the navy. More than anything else, this is just a legacy of our troubled past, since the widespread spate of battles and combat incurred many casualties at sea, with no way and means of getting the honored dead on land. As it is, they decided that the ocean was as good a place as anywhere else, and from that time on, the navy and other sea denizens had no qualms whatsoever in burying their dead at sea.

The most difficult part of the logistics is probably looking for a suitable burial site. It must be at high seas with depths greater than three hundred meters. Aside from that, there should also be considerations regarding currents, pipelines, and fishing grounds. Some areas, such that in northern Florida, require depths of about six hundred feet and distances of three miles from the nearest land.

That said, you will have to supply the exact coordinates on the exact site you or family member would like to be interred. It must comply with the above requirements, where the body has minimal risk of disturbing and beign disturbed. However, this is sometimes assumed or else taken as a matter of course, which is why it is sometimes required for bodies to have identification tags attached.

Moreover, the deceased should not be embalmed to ensure easy decomposition. Light and biodegradable clothing is recommended. The casket should be constructed in such a way that it sinks easily to the seafloor. Standard specifications outline that the coffin should be made from solid softwood and not contain material made from lead, plastic, zinc, or copper, so that it doesnt contaminate and easily biodegrades. Usually, it is recommended for holes to be drilled throughout so that it sinks speedily and doesnt drift far from the designated burial location, and it may be appended by extra weights and such.

The nitty gritty is put in place so that the body is sure not to interfere with commercial activities like fishing and shipping. The deceased may be interred in a casket or shrouded in a sailcloth. These full body burials must undergo some sort of specific preparation to ensure the coffin sinks quickly. A licensed funeral director may be required.

There are year round services for this occasion. Its only natural that one delicately and properly plans this considerable rite of passage. After all, according to the popular philosophy, death is but the next great adventure.




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