What to do - crew dies at sea?

[Steadman Uhlich]

While this may not answer the OPs questions, there is a LOT of interesting information about what to do regarding a Burial at Sea (not the same as a death at sea), including an interesting list of people (famous) who have been buried at sea.

One thing I noted, the US Navy provides a free burial at sea for honorably discharged sailors (USN) and their family and to those of retired Navy personnel.

I would like to be buried at sea too.

Trivia: the astronaut Neil Armstrong was buried at sea off a USN ship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial_at_sea

[sy_gilana]

Chapter 12 of the Ship's Captains' Medical Guide.

It is downloadable as a pdf....just search without any punctuation.

[mrohr]

Burial at sea in the old sailing war ships : deceased sewn into his hammock with final stich thru nose (to confirm death). One large cannonball sewn into hammock at the foot, the rest you all know.
I personally wouldn't sign on with any ship that carries a lot of cannonballs……there are many more interesting companions to share a hammock with………

………………luv you all………………………….mike………………………………..

[sailorboy1]

beside what to do with the body, have you ever thought what it would take a single person to get someone out of a berth etc and outside

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

beside what to do with the body, have you ever thought what it would take a single person to get someone out of a berth etc and outside

I agree. On my boat as soon as someone gets sick they sleep in the cockpit. They better not miss a breath or its <<Ping>> straight over the side

[goat]

I'd leave the body on the boat until landfall. I sail solo, so there's not much choice.

goat

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[a64pilot]

If this is a serious consideration, a military body bag will contain all the fluids and birds will not bother the body. I can only imagine the problems you would face at check in when you tell them, oh by the way, we left with four, but we buried one at sea?
Maybe I'm overestimating the problems?
Body bags are cheap, I used to sleep in one in Bosnia, kept the sleeping bag dry.


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[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I agree. On my boat as soon as someone gets sick they sleep in the cockpit. They better not miss a breath or its <<Ping>> straight over the side

Mostly this is an issue for "old" people. They (we, and that includes you Mark) don't get sick and suddenly die, we just suddenly die. That's probably why we don't really hear about this issue.

Most of us die alone. It's sad but that's the way it is.

[garrobito]

1) Confirmed the deceased (with witness if is possible, video or pictures)
2) Contact authorities.. not just in your country.. the first port authorities you landed must to be informed.
3) Buried at sea... no later than 48 hs..
4) Be prepared to fill up thousand of paperwork (literally) and be questioned (you and your crew) extensively, specially if was an accidental dead... Could take literally.. weeks or month to clear to another port..

[Melekai]

Like to hear from someone who has had this happen.
Also a lawyer familiar with maritime law.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Melekai

Like to hear from someone who has had this happen.
Also a lawyer familiar with maritime law.

That's what we need, except the lawyer part!

[Tayana42]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

That's what we need, except the lawyer part!

What do you do if a lawyer dies at sea?😙


S/V B'Shert

[roverhi]

Break out a bottle of your best and celebrate.

Originally Posted by Tayana42

What do you do if a lawyer dies at sea?😙


S/V B'Shert

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

What do you do if a lawyer dies at sea?😙


S/V B'Shert

Sorry, this really isn't the thread for lawyer jokes. This really is a serious subject with no good answers and where people facing it aren't going to be clearly thinking or behaving in a clear mind. I read these with the utmost seriousness regardless of what it may appear.

[Invictus69]

Interesting topic. I would wonder why death at sea and the subseqent procedure for disposal of the body would be any different from a death on a mountain (eg Mt Everest) or any remote location on land where transportation of the body is out of a question.