The logistics of arranging a burial at sea can be complicated, which subsequently has an impact on the cost.
Firstly, a self-service marine license for sea burial must be purchased from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which costs £50[7].
Secondly, the services of a funeral director (perhaps with experience of arranging burials at sea) may be required.
They may charge upwards of a few thousand pounds, much like a traditional funeral on land.
There are also requirements as to the type of coffin and how it’s prepared for a sea burial.
For example, it must have holes drilled throughout and 200kg of metal or concrete clamped to the base to ensure that the coffin sinks to the seabed.
There will also be third-party services to consider, including a boat hire company and crew that are experienced and equipped with handling a burial at sea.
This may cost an additional few thousand pounds. For example, ‘Burials at Sea’ based on the Isle of Wight charge from £3,195 for their services[8].
For an additional cost, they can arrange a suitable coffin, additional boat hire for mourners and liaise with a funeral director on your behalf.