Cologne Sea Burial

Burial at sea is a dignified form of farewell in which the ashes of a deceased person are transferred into the water. It is particularly suitable for people who feel a special connection to water or want to return to the natural cycle of nature.

During a burial at sea, the ash is lowered into the water in a special, biodegradable urn, where it becomes part of the natural cycle. This form of burial offers survivors a special place of remembrance, without the obligation to care for the grave. The exact place of burial can often be marked on cards so that relatives have the opportunity to visit it later

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Benefits of a burial at sea

Burial at sea offers a number of benefits:

Closeness to nature and freedom: The farewell in the water is perceived as particularly peaceful and sublime. It is particularly suitable for people who felt connected to water or wanted an unusual burial location.
Freedom of care: Since there is no traditional grave, grave maintenance is omitted, which relieves family members.
Flexibility and privacy: The burial at sea enables a personal and individual farewell ceremony on the water.

Eco-friendly: The urns used are biodegradable and completely dissolve in water.

The process of a sea burial

A burial at sea usually follows a fixed procedure:

Transfer of ashes: After cremation, the ash is filled into a water-soluble urn, which dissolves in water in an environmentally friendly manner.
Farewell on the water: Relatives who want an accompanied burial board the ship with the urn. A personal ceremony is held at the burial site, during which words of remembrance can be spoken, flowers spread or music can be played.
Burial of the urn: The urn is dropped into the water and sinks slowly to the bottom. The location is often marked on a map so that relatives can visit this place later.

The ceremony on the water

The burial usually takes place with a chartered ship from the shipping company. As soon as the burial position is reached, the ship stops and the relatives gather for the farewell ceremony. After a memorial speech and several chimes, the flag is set at half mast and the urn is released into the water. Relatives often have the option to add flowers or painted stones. After the burial, the ship turns around the burial site for a few laps before making its way back. Coffee and cake can be served on the way back.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The weather is closely monitored in advance so that the ceremony can be carried out in appropriate and safe conditions.

Is participation in the burial at sea necessary?

No, relatives can decide whether they want to attend the funeral. The deceased's wish is respected in any case, and the ceremony can also take place without the presence of the family.

remembrance

After the funeral, the relatives receive a card with the coordinates of the burial place. Many families later use this place for memorial trips or to scatter flowers in the water. Some shipping companies offer regular memorial trips, during which burial sites can be visited.

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Costs of a burial at sea

The cost of a funeral at sea may vary depending on the provider and type of ceremony. They usually consist of the urn, the transfer of the ashes, the organization of the ship's burial and the ceremony:

Silent burial (without relatives): starting at around 150€.
Accompanied funeral (with relatives): from around 1,500€ to 3,000€, depending on the ship and number of guests. The costs may be higher for larger ceremonies.

In addition, there are the regular funeral costs for a cremation, which are around 2,000-4,000 euros. Due to the omission of grave costs, sea burial remains the cheapest type of burial.

Where can sea burials take place near Cologne?

In Germany, it is mandatory that sea burials may only take place on the open sea and with a minimum distance of 3 nautical miles from the coast. It is therefore not possible to establish a sea in Cologne or the surrounding area. The nearest sea burial options can be found on the North and Baltic Seas. For people of Cologne who feel connected to the Rhine, a river burial is worth considering as an alternative — a special service offered in selected sections of the Rhine.

Burial in the Baltic Sea (e.g. from Rostock or Warnemünde)

The Baltic Sea is a popular region for sea burials and is easily accessible from Cologne. Ports such as Rostock or Warnemünde offer silent funerals or ceremonies through specialized shipping companies in the presence of relatives.

Baltic Sea:

‍Burial at sea in the North Sea (e.g. from Cuxhaven or Büsum)

There are also defined areas for sea burials in the North Sea, for example from Cuxhaven or Büsum. For many people, the North Sea symbolizes freedom and infinity, which makes it a particularly suitable place for a final rest.

North Sea:

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Lübeck Bay:

Baltic Sea burials

River burials in the Rhine

For the reasons mentioned above, burial of the Rhine is currently not possible in Germany. But the Netherlands and Switzerland allow the alternative form of burial subject to certain conditions. Unlike in Germany, for example, The Canton of Basel approves the burial of the Rhine with open ashes. In various areas of the Netherlands, burials on the Rhine and burial of ashes in a water urn are permitted without a permit.

We will assist you with your burial at sea

Our team is available to answer any questions you may have and will help you make the farewell dignified and according to your wishes. We take care of all necessary formalities and coordinate the process with the respective shipping company. Let us create a peaceful and natural farewell together — in harmony with nature.

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By the way - the Memovida Extra:

Do you love Mallorca or the Côte d'Azur? Do you prefer the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea or the Baltic Sea? Through our partners in Saint Tropez or Port d'Andratx, we provide you with affordable sea burials even in warmer climes.

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Let us create a peaceful and natural farewell together in harmony with nature.

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Eternally connected to water — sea burials from Cologne