Interested in Burial at Sea?
Contact MyNavy Career Center at 1-833-330-6622 to receive the Burial at Sea packet.
Burial at Sea is a means of final disposition of remains that is performed on United States Naval vessels to include ships, submarines and aircraft. The committal ceremony is performed while the ship is deployed, therefore, family members are not allowed to be present. The Commanding Officer of the ship, assigned to perform the ceremony, will notify the family of the date, time, and longitude and latitude once the committal service has been completed. The average amount of time, for Burial at Sea is 12 to 18 months, once the remains/cremains are received at the port of embarkation.
Eligibility: The following individuals are eligible for at sea disposition: (1) Members of the uniformed services, (2) Retired members of the uniformed services, (3) Former members of the uniformed services honorably discharged, (4) U.S. Civilian Marine Personnel of the Military Sealift Command, and (5) Dependents of members and dependents of former members of the uniformed services.
How to get started: After the death of the individual for whom the request for Burial at Sea is being made, the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) should contact the port of embarkation (listed below) or MyNavy Career Center 1-833-330-6622 to request a packet and additional information.
Supporting documents which must accompany this request are:
(1) a photocopy of the death certificate
(2) the burial transit permit or the cremation certificate
(3) a copy of the DD Form 214, discharge certificate, or retirement order.
The Burial at Sea Request Form and the three supporting documents listed above make up the Burial at Sea Request package. (You will need to use the search menu type: OPNAV 5360 and download both forms).
Burial Flag: A Burial Flag is required for all committal services performed aboard United States Naval vessels, except family members, who are not authorized a burial flag. The PADD can request a free flag for burial purposes by using VA Form 27-2008. Following the services at sea, the flag that accompanied the cremains/remains will be returned to the PNOK in a ceremony package. If the PNOK does not wish to send a burial flag for the service, a flag will be provided by the Navy for the committal service but will not be sent to the PNOK.
Cremated Remains (Cremains): Cremains must be in an urn or temporary container (preferably spun brass or bio-degradable) to prevent spillage in shipping. Recent changes in the law prohibit the discharge of plastics at sea. Families are encouraged to have the cremains inurned directly or transferred to a sturdy bio-degradable urn at their local funeral home to facilitate burial at sea.
Burial at Sea Coordinators at each port of embarkation are available to assist with any questions regarding the urns. The cremated remains, along with the completed Burial at Sea Request package, should be sent to the coordinator at the desired port of embarkation. Before shipping, it is strongly recommended to contact the coordinator by phone to notify them of the pending request. When mailing cremains, only Priority Mail Express Service is authorized. Additionally, using Tracking and Signature on Delivery is recommended to ensure the package reaches the correct recipient promptly and securely.
Casketed Remains: Only the ports of Norfolk, VA and San Diego, CA are authorized to accept casketed remains for Burial at Sea. Specific preparation guidelines must be followed for casketed remains, and all associated expenses are the responsibility of the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD). The PADD must select a funeral home near the designated port of embarkation.
Once a funeral home has been selected and the coordinator has been notified, the following items must be forwarded to the receiving funeral home:
- The casketed remains
- The completed Burial at Sea Request form
- All supporting documentation
- The burial flag
The Burial at Sea Coordinator will then inspect the remains and complete the required preparation checklist. It is strongly recommended that funeral homes responsible for preparing and shipping intact remains contact the Mortuary Affairs Office at Navy Casualty in Millington, TN to obtain the official preparation requirements.
PORTS OF EMBARKATION / COORDINATORS
| Norfolk, VA |
Commander, Naval Medical Center
ATTN: Code 090A00
620 John Paul Jones Cir.
Portsmouth, VA 23708-5100
Phone: (757) 953-2777/2774
|
| Jacksonville, FL |
Officer in Charge
Naval Hospital Branch Clinic
P. O. Box 280148
Naval Station
Mayport, FL 32228-0148
Phone: (904) 270-4285
|
| San Diego, CA |
Commanding Officer
Naval Medical Center
Decedent Affairs Code: 09OA
San Diego, CA 92134-5000
(800) 290-7410
|
| Bremerton, WA |
Commanding Officer
Naval Hospital Bremerton
Code 015-BAS/HPO1 Boone Road
Bremerton, WA 98312-1898
Phone: (360) 475-4777
|
| Honolulu, HI |
Navy Liaison Unit
Tripler Army Medical Center
Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000
Phone: 808-433-4709/(808) 577-7590 |
Questions concerning Burial-at-Sea?
Toll Free - 1-833-330-6622