# Burial at sea in the UK: licences, sites, coffins and costs

> Burial at sea is legal in the UK but needs a marine licence. In England the Marine Management Organisation issues it, and there are three designated sites: off the Needles, between Hastings and Newhaven, and off Tynemouth. The body must not be embalmed and the coffin must meet strict rules. Scattering ashes at sea needs no licence.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/burial-at-sea/ — updated 2026-09-25 — FuneralFinder

For people who loved the sea, being buried there can feel like the most natural farewell. Burial at sea is legal in the UK, but it is rare, carefully licensed and more involved than a burial on land. This guide explains who issues the licence in each nation, where burials can take place, the strict coffin rules and the simpler alternative of scattering ashes at sea.

## Key points

- **A marine licence is required** to bury a body at sea anywhere in UK waters.
- **England has three designated sites**: off the Needles (Isle of Wight), between Hastings and Newhaven, and off Tynemouth (North Tyneside).
- **The body must not be embalmed** and must be dressed lightly in biodegradable material.
- **The coffin must be solid softwood**, banded with steel, weighted with at least 200kg and drilled with at least fifty 50mm holes.
- **At the Needles, DNA samples are required**, with consent.
- **Scattering ashes at sea needs no licence.**

## Who issues the licence?

| Where | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| **English waters** | Marine Management Organisation (MMO) |
| **Northern Ireland offshore waters** | Marine Management Organisation (MMO) |
| **Northern Ireland inshore waters** | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) |
| **Welsh waters** (inshore and offshore) | Natural Resources Wales |
| **Scottish waters** | Scottish Government's Burial, Cremation and Death Certification team |

The MMO's guidance is the most detailed published, and it's summarised below. If you're planning a burial off Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, contact the relevant body early to check its process, suitable locations and any conditions.

## Designated sites in England

The MMO offers a quicker, cheaper **self-service licence** for its three designated sites:

- **off the Needles**, Isle of Wight
- **between Hastings and Newhaven**, East Sussex
- **off Tynemouth**, North Tyneside.

You can apply for a **standard licence** at another location in English or Northern Irish offshore waters, but you may need evidence that the spot is suitable, taking into account water depth, currents, pipelines and fishing. Under a self-service licence, the burial must take place **within 3 months** of the licence being granted. All applications and decisions are published on the MMO's public register.

## Paperwork you need (England)

Before applying to the MMO, you need:

- a **death certificate**
- a **certificate of freedom from fever and infection**, from the person's GP or hospital doctor
- a **Notice to a Coroner of Intention to Remove a Body out of England**, which you get from the coroner in exchange for the registrar's certificate for burial or cremation
- a signed **DNA sample consent form** (the Needles only)
- a credit or debit card for the licence fee.

The certificates and the coroner's acknowledgement must be available for inspection on request.

## DNA sampling at the Needles

Remains from sea burials can occasionally wash ashore, sometimes many years later. For the Needles site, three DNA samples must be taken and added to the Missing Persons DNA Database, so remains can be identified without a lengthy investigation. The profiles stay on the database indefinitely.

Consent can be given by the person during their life, or after death by the person in the highest qualifying relationship to them. The funeral director, who usually obtains consent, must have completed consent training provided by the Human Tissue Authority. Where DNA isn't taken, a durable identification tag marked with the funeral director's details must be attached to the body.

## Rules for the body and coffin

The MMO's licence conditions are strict. In summary:

| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| **No embalming** | The body must not be embalmed |
| **Clothing** | Lightly dressed in biodegradable material; no canvas shrouds |
| **Coffin** | Solid softwood, not veneered board or hardwood; no plastic, lead, copper, zinc or other harmful materials |
| **Strength** | Butt-jointed corners with internal steel brackets or wooden struts; at least two steel bands lengthways and five widthways |
| **Mesh** | The body wrapped in metal wire mesh, fixed to the base of the coffin |
| **Weights** | Iron, steel or concrete clamped to the base, at a 3:1 ratio to the person's body weight and at least 200kg |
| **Holes** | At least fifty 50mm holes, so the coffin fills with water quickly |

The body and coffin may be inspected before the burial. Because the body can't be embalmed, the timing needs careful planning with the funeral director.

## What happens on the day

The coffin is taken to the harbour and loaded onto a suitable vessel. Family and friends may be able to travel on the boat, depending on its size and safety rules. At the site, there is usually a short service or words of committal before the coffin is lowered into the sea. Bad weather can postpone a burial, so it's wise to agree a back-up date.

## How much does it cost?

There is no standard price, and not every funeral director offers burial at sea. Costs usually include:

- the funeral director's fees
- the **marine licence fee** (the self-service licence costs less than a standard one)
- a **purpose-built coffin** with steel bands, mesh and weights
- **boat hire** and crew
- **DNA sampling fees** at the Needles.

Expect it to cost more than a typical burial or cremation. Ask for a full written estimate, and compare it with the [average funeral costs](/uk/funeral-costs/) in the UK.

## Scattering ashes at sea instead

Many families choose cremation followed by scattering the ashes at sea. GOV.UK confirms that **no licence or permission is needed** to scatter ashes at sea. You can scatter from a beach, a pier (with permission) or a boat, or use a biodegradable urn designed to float and then sink. Leave out plastic, balloons and anything that won't break down. See [scattering ashes](/uk/guides/scattering-ashes/).

## Where to get help

- Ask a funeral director with sea burial experience. Start with [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).
- Compare [cremation and burial](/uk/guides/cremation-vs-burial/), or consider [natural woodland burial](/uk/guides/natural-woodland-burial/).
- Planning your own funeral? Record your wishes with our [funeral wishes tool](/tools/funeral-wishes/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Can anyone be buried at sea in the UK?

Yes, anyone can apply, not just sailors or service personnel. You need a marine licence, the right paperwork from the doctor, registrar and coroner, a specially built coffin and a suitable boat. It's best to use a funeral director with experience of burial at sea.

### Do you need a licence to scatter ashes at sea?

No. GOV.UK confirms you don't need a licence or permission to scatter ashes at sea after a cremation. It's simpler and usually much cheaper than burying a body at sea. See our [scattering ashes guide](/uk/guides/scattering-ashes/).

### Where can you be buried at sea in England?

There are three designated sites: off the Needles on the Isle of Wight, between Hastings and Newhaven, and off Tynemouth in North Tyneside. You can apply for a different location, but you may have to show it's suitable, taking into account depth, currents, pipelines and fishing.

### Can the body be embalmed for a burial at sea?

No. The licence conditions say the body must not be embalmed. It must be lightly dressed in biodegradable material, and canvas shrouds are not allowed.

### How much does a burial at sea cost?

There's no standard price. You'll pay the licence fee, the funeral director, a purpose-built weighted coffin, hire of a suitable boat and, at the Needles, DNA sampling fees. Overall it usually costs more than a standard burial or cremation, so ask for a full written quote.

### Can family go on the boat?

Often, yes, but it depends on the size of the vessel, the weather and the operator's safety rules. Burials can be delayed by bad weather, so ask your funeral director about numbers and back-up dates.

## Sources

- [GOV.UK (Marine Management Organisation) – How to arrange a burial at sea in the UK marine area](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-get-a-licence-for-a-burial-at-sea-in-england)
- [MMO – Burials at sea: detailed guidance (PDF)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1183085/Burials_at_sea_detailed_guidance.pdf)
- [Natural Resources Wales – Marine licensing](https://naturalresources.wales/permits-and-permissions/marine-licensing/?lang=en)
- [DAERA – Marine licensing](https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/marine-licensing)
- [gov.scot – Burial, cremation, hydrolysis and death certification](https://www.gov.scot/policies/death-and-end-of-life/burial-cremation-and-death-certification/)