Why are services unattended?

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• Due to regulations regarding the transport of paying passengers, I am unable to offer attended scattering services. However, you are welcome to observe from shore, please contact me to coordinate the details. Washington State Ferries permits the scattering of cremated remains. You can click here for more information. Additionally, there are charter boat services available that can accommodate accompanied scatterings of cremains.

 

How do you scatter the ashes?

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• I offer a unique and respectful approach to scattering ashes. Instead of casting the cremains directly into the water, where they can often blow back onto the boat or cling to the sides, I gently lower them until they rest on the ocean’s surface. With a soft push, they drift away in a serene and beautiful manner. 

  You also have the option to provide a biodegradable cremation urn, specifically designed to gradually release the ashes into the sea. Click here for more information. This differs from traditional urns, which may also be interred in the ocean but are not designed to dissolve naturally.

 

May I request special services or a specific burial location?

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• Yes, please send me a message so we can discuss any special requests you have.

 

My loved one is a veteran, are their VA benefits to help pay for their burial?

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• Yes, the VA does provide financial assistance for the burial of U.S. Veterans, click here for more information.  I also offer a 10% discount for veterans, please contact me for the coupon code. 

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Are there any regulations regarding burials at sea?

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• There are no Washington State laws or British Columbia regulations prohibiting the scattering of ashes in inland bodies of water. The Salish Sea, which includes the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is considered an inland body of water and is not subject to specific restrictions regarding ash scattering. Click here for information on EPA regulations and here for Washington State.

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If I bring you the cremated remains, do I need to declare them at the U.S. border?

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• No, there are no requirements for importing cremated human remains into the United States, no death certificate or special documentation is needed.