Services Available
Coming soon UK Ashes - Portugal
Burial at sea of cremated remains or scattering of ashes at sea is fast becoming one of the most popular choices with people from all walks of life. Historically people with close ties with the sea would have been the mainstay of such committals, today however a number of issues including environmental issues, faith and economy our sea services are becoming increasingly popular.
Our clients come from all backgrounds and a numerous beliefs, all of which are looked after in a professional and compassionate manner.
We offer regular scatterings from East and West London, Ramsgate, Dover, Brighton, Chichester, Poole, Weymouth, Torbay and Looe through our partners, as well as The Thames and Crouch aboard our own boats.
We can also organise scatterings from virtually any other port.
SKIPPERS SERVICE
These are our most popular services whereby within 30 days of our receiving the ashes our skippers proceed to sea and carry out the committal, whether it be a scattering or burial of the cremated remains. The date time and exact position of the committal is recorded and this is passed onto the family. This allows for us to return at some future point to the exact position of the committal, perhaps for anniversary reasons or for the committal of another family member. Sadly it is not possible for family members to accompany our skippers on the skippers service though by arrangement one of our own experienced celebrants can attend to oversee or carry out the committal.
Much of our success is due to our extensive network of professional skippers throughout the UK and beyond, with literally hundreds of craft available to us. Skippers services can therefore be carried out from almost any port in the UK. Should we be unable to organise a committal from your chosen port within the 30 day period we will present various alternatives to you.
It is usual for us to receive ashes by courier or registered post, but once again one of our own celebrants is available to collect in person at additional cost of course.
The vast majority of our clients opt to utilise our own vessels from Wallasea Island or Burnham-on Crouch in Essex to carry out the committal as clearly this is the most cost effective option for clients who do not have a specific requirement to be buried or scattered from a specific location.
FAMILY SERVICE
These trips are tailor made to suit the requirements of our clients. Once again the most popular option is to sail from our home ports in Essex where we can cater for up to 40 guests. Clients can choose how they would like to commemorate their loved one, whether it be by means of a service conducted by their own religious official or one of our celebrants or they can carry out the committal themselves. Particular tracks of music can be played, songs sung and so forth.
These trips last up to two hours and once again, the exact time and position of the committal for memorial reasons are provided to allow for return visits to exact place. At additional cost we can provide a nautical chart, showing the location, time and date of the committal together with details of your loved one. Guests are free to bring refreshments of their choice aboard our own vessels though we are always happy to organise refreshments onboard or ashore should you so wish.
Once again we are able to offer this service from other ports around the coast as well as for larger numbers of guests through our unique network of professional mariners. We will be pleased to discuss any requirements you may have and look forward to helping you to organise the day. One of our experienced celebrants can also be on hand to oversee events should you so wish. In any event the skipper and crew will anchor the boat and switch off the engine. Once in position they will attend to the safety of the vessel and passengers, leaving the deck of the boat for you to carryout the committal as you wish although we will always be at hand should you require assistance in any way.
SCATTERING BY AIR
We are currently able to organise ashes to be scattered from a light aircraft over either the North Sea or English Channel. Sadly it is not possible for family members to attend these committals. Once again the date time and position of the committal will be passed back to you.
BESPOKE COMMITTALS
From time to time we are approached to arrange a more specific or a different themed committal, we therefore have links with specialist groups such as among others mountaineering and diving groups.
Please contact us to discuss any specific or specialist requirement and provided your request is ethical and lawful we will do our best to help.
FOR OUR UNATTENDED COMMITTALS
Please contact us to discuss your requirements either through our online enquiry form or by telephoning 01702 258666.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
It is our policy to protect the environment as much as possible and to adhere to the various regulations in force such as MARPOL regarding marine pollution. Accordingly all cremated remains for sea burial must be passed to us in either a biodegradable urn, biodegradable box or a water soluble (PVA) plastic bag in which the ashes are to be committed.
Ashes for scattering on our Skippers Service should be similarly presented as we regret it is not possible to return urns and suchlike.
Obviously ashes for the Family Service may arrive in any suitable container which can be taken home afterwards. It is important to remember that only one floral tribute can be laid at sea and these must not contain any wires or plastics whatsoever. We appreciate your help in protecting the environment.
PAST CLIENTS
Two brothers engaged our services to bury at sea the cremated remains of their mother at a particular position at sea, the same place that her son and our clients brother had been lost at sea some years earlier.
One family arrived dressed as football supporters, with hats scarves shirts and even a claxon. Among the guests was their church vicar who performed a full service aboard with prayers and hymns. After the service and committal we returned to port with the passengers singing their football songs at the tops of their voices all the way back.
Another family recently after the committal broke out the champagne and a full buffet and turned the day into a celebration of the life of their loved one.
Uncle George's' ashes had been stored in a shed in the garden of his West London home and were found ten years later following the death of his wife Patricia. The property was to be sold and the relatives decided to scatter their ashes together from Burnham-on Crouch.