Family Memorial Service
For families wishing to be present on the water, our Family Memorial Service offers a meaningful way to say goodbye. We provide the vessel, licensed captain, and crew so that you and your loved ones can gather together for a private, dignified scattering of ashes at sea.
Compassionate, Seamless Burial at Sea Services Nationwide
At Sea Services™, we partner with over 100 carefully vetted captains and vessels across the United States to ensure every memorial experience is safe, respectful, and deeply meaningful. Each captain has been handpicked by our ownership team not only for maritime knowledge, but also for the compassion and respect required to guide families through this moment.
Our vessels are typically covered to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain, and most include an onboard restroom for comfort during your time on the water.
What to Expect During Your Memorial Charter
Each Family Memorial Service lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours dock to dock. A typical voyage includes:
- 30–45 minutes traveling to a peaceful location offshore
- 30 minutes at rest for the ceremony itself
- 30–45 minutes returning to harbor
During your time at sea, your family will have the privacy and space to reflect, share stories, offer prayers, release flowers, and scatter ashes in a serene and meaningful setting. Every trip is 100% private — we never place multiple families on the same voyage.
After the service, we provide a personalized Memorial Certificate including your loved one’s name, the date of the service, and the exact coordinates of the scattering location.
Our Proprietary Scattering Urn (Included at No Charge)
Families often find that scattering directly from the bag provided by crematories can be difficult, as ashes may catch in the wind and fall on passengers, the vessel, or in unintended places.
To ensure a beautiful and controlled scattering, Sea Services™ developed our Proprietary Scattering Urn, which is included with every Family Memorial Service:
- A simple, cylindrical white urn made of biodegradable cardboard
- Small holes at the bottom allow a gentle, controlled release of ashes
- Ensures remains settle gracefully into the sea without worry
- Each urn includes two bags of freeze-dried flowers, which may be mixed with the ashes for a beautiful, memorable ceremony
If your family already has an urn purchased from a funeral home, or a biodegradable urn purchased elsewhere, our urn is not required — though many families appreciate the peace of mind it provides.
EPA Compliance & Reporting
Every scattering is performed in strict compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Sea Services™ handles all EPA-required reporting on your behalf — a step that is mandatory by federal law but often overlooked by unlicensed fishing boats and operators.
With us, you can have complete confidence that your loved one’s scattering will be handled not only with dignity, but also in full legal compliance — ensuring respect for both your family and the environment.
Why Families Trust Sea Services™
Families across the country choose Sea Services™ because of our reputation for compassion, professionalism, and care:
- Experience You Can Trust — With more than 100 vessels nationwide and years of dedicated service, families across the U.S. rely on us to provide dignified and seamless memorials at sea.
- Handpicked Captains — Every captain is carefully vetted by our ownership team for both maritime skill and compassion.
- Safety & Compliance — All vessels are U.S. Coast Guard–approved, and every scattering is performed in strict EPA compliance, with reporting handled entirely by us.
- Personalized Memorial Certificate — A permanent keepsake including your loved one’s name, the date, and exact coordinates of the scattering.
- Private Voyages — Every Family Memorial Service is 100% private, never shared with other families.
💙 See for Yourself: Visit our Gallery to view photos of real voyages and the peaceful settings where we’ve served families.
💬 Hear from Families: Read our Testimonials & Google Reviews to see how others have described their experience with Sea Services™.
