You can lay your loved ones to rest in peace in the sea

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

MANY families may wish for their loved ones to be laid to rest at sea – but not everyone knows that Tynemouth is one of just three sites in the country designated for sea burials.

Although a lot of people who are buried at sea are former sailors or navy personnel, there is no need to have a connection with maritime life.

Anyone can be buried at sea but a licence is required and there are certain environmental rules to follow.

Here, we have put together a list of regulations covering sea burials, which are regulated by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). these specifications will help prevent the body being returned to shore by tidal currents or being caught by fishing gear.

Anyone who has a licence, e.g. the relatives of the deceased and the funeral director, must follow these specifications:

• the coffin must be made of solid softwood and must not contain any plastic, lead, copper or zinc.

• it must have between 40 and 50 two-inch holes drilled throughout

• its corners should be butt-jointed and strengthened with mild steel right angle brackets screwed internally or substantial wooden bracing struts 50 x 38mm

• must have about 200kg of iron, steel or concrete clamped to the base of the coffin with brackets of 10mm mild steel bar, or blocks of weak concrete mix

• weight should be distributed evenly to prevent the coffin from turning to the vertical

• should have two long mild steel bands running from the top to the bottom of the coffin and several mild steel bands across the coffin at about 30cm intervals along its length

• the coffin and any inner box or liner must be made from natural, non-toxic and biodegradable materials. They must both be able to withstand any impact and be able to carry the body quickly to the seabed.

There have been 16 burials in 2017 so far. The statistics for the previous years are: • • • 2016 – 5 2015 – 13 2014 – 10 • 2013 – 8 • 2012 - 4 The majority of burials take place at the Needles and Newhaven sites. The last time Tynemouth was used was in 2013.

You don’t need a licence or permission to scatter ashes following a cremation. The MMO does not actually encourage burials at sea – it recommends the scattering of ashes, which alleviates the risk of bodies being washed up ashore.