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One of the most
emotionally charged ceremonies at sea is that
which consigns mortal remains to the deep. In ancient
times, the Romans and Greeks placed coins in the mouth
of the deceased to pay the fare for his transportation
over the River Styx. The body was prepared for burial
at sea by being sewn into shrouds, and the sail maker
took the last stitch through the nose of the deceased.
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In the event of
death aboard a ship, it is customary for the Medical
Officer to report immediately to the Officer of the
Watch, who logs it and reports to the Captain. While
the body is preserved and handed over to the relatives
ashore in most cases, circumstances may occasionally
demand a burial at sea. In this event, all personnel
not on essential duty attend the funeral, which is
conducted by the Captain. The body duly sewn up in
weighted shrouds is covered by the National Flag,
which is removed just before the body is consigned to
the deep after the funeral service. Superstition has
it that sea birds are spirits of dead sailors buried
at sea, which is why no sea bird will ever come to
harm at the hands of a seaman.
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In our country, where burial is
not the only means of performing the last rites, this
tradition has over the years been modified. In the
event of naval personnel being cremated ashore, the
urn containing the ashes is brought on board and
placed on the quarterdeck with due solemnity. When the
ship reaches the designated area, the guard Presents
Arms, the Last Post is sounded and the ashes along
with flowers are consigned to the waters. As the ashes
intermingle with the waves and the final notes of the
Rouse fade away the ship records the position of the
ceremony on the chart and gets underway. This
tradition was established when the ashes of Admiral RD
Katari were consigned to the sea off Vishakapatnam,
and was subsequently adopted by other officers who
chose to be laid to rest in a similar manner.
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