Statutory guidance

Coffin requirements for burial at sea

Coffin specifications for funeral directors burying someone at sea.

Documents

Details

There are special requirements for the materials and design of coffins used in sea burial. Coffins built to 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 to carry out a burial at sea, eg the relatives of the person who has died and the funeral director, must follow the specifications.

Contact information

Marine Licensing Team 0300 123 1032 marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk

Updates to this page

Published 11 June 2014
Last updated 28 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Small text amend to html attachment

  2. Requirement update

  3. changed link to general burial at sea page as this has recently been moved and revised

  4. First published.

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