Honouring loved ones at sea: Wesley Offshore’s unique ash-scattering services
by Lucy Varley
• Published 31/08/2024
Advertorial
Advertising Feature From
Wesley Offshore
Wesley Offshore strives to provide a fitting final farewell for those with a deep connection to the sea
The things we cherish shape our lives, so why should they lose significance when we pass away? This heartfelt sentiment is the foundation of Wesley Offshore, a new service dedicated to scattering ashes from retired RNLI lifeboats, either out at sea or on rivers.
Whether your loved one was a mariner or simply had a passion for the ocean, this unique service offers a fitting final voyage in their honour.
Wesley Offshore will guide you through the process, ensuring as peaceful a send off as possible for your loved one (Image: Wesley Offshore)
Attended and unattended services
Wesley Offshore provides both attended and unattended services, including anniversary and memorial trips. For those unable to attend a service in person, the company offers a livestream webcast, allowing friends and family to participate from afar.
This offering also allows loved ones to send video tributes and request personalised music to make the ceremony truly special.
Departures from Dartmouth
Currently, Wesley Offshore operates out of beautiful Dartmouth in Devon, lovingly selected for its stunning natural beauty, picturesque charm and historical significance - such as its links to the D-Day Landings. The company plans to expand its fleet to include more locations in the future.
Attended services
For attended services, up to 10 guests can join aboard the ex-RNLI Mersey Class Lifeboat, The Samuel Wesley. Departing from Dartmouth, the boat will take you to your chosen location where you can reflect on your special memories, accompanied by personalised music from a library of more than 700,000 tracks.
Once there, ashes can be scattered freely or lowered into the water in a biodegradable urn of your choice. Significant and meaningful eulogies and poems can be read, or you can simply pause for peace and reflection.
Unattended services
If you prefer not to attend, or simply can’t make it, Wesley Offshore will respectfully scatter your loved one’s ashes on your behalf. You have the option to choose between scattering or lowering the ashes in a biodegradable urn. Special words or poems can be read by the crew, accompanied by music that holds special meaning and personal significance.
Choosing a fitting farewell for your loved one is an overwhelming but important process (Image: iStock)
Anniversary services
Marking the anniversary of a loved one’s passing can be a meaningful and healing experience. Wesley Offshore offers excursions suitable for up to 10 guests on The Samuel Wesley. These trips provide an opportunity to remember and celebrate your loved one’s life. If their ashes were previously scattered by Wesley Offshore, you can even visit the exact location for a moment of reflection, or place flowers in the water as a mark of love and respect.
Memorial services
If you feel that a church or crematorium service was not quite enough for your final goodbye, Wesley Offshore offers tailor-made memorial services. These excursions allow for reflection and remembrance, with visual tributes and personalised music. You can pause at chosen points for readings or poetry, and place flowers in the water as a symbolic gesture of respect.
Livestream and recording options
Whether you choose an attended or unattended service, anniversary or memorial trip, friends and relatives can follow along via a livestream webcast. Recordings are available on-demand for one week after the trip, and can be made into lasting mementos through digital downloads, USBs or DVDs.
Wesley Offshore strives to provide a fitting final farewell for those with a deep connection to the sea (Image: Wesley Offshore)
A message from founder Neil Heskins
Founder Neil Heskins takes pride in using magnificent retired lifeboats for these beautiful and meaningful journeys. He said: “Lifeboats are incredible things; they truly see the whole of life.
“They are called upon for both joyous beginnings and sad endings. They symbolise life’s wholeness, making them perfect for a final journey at sea.”
Neil believes families and friends of the deceased will take great comfort in the possibility of a trip around the world in death, when it might not have been possible during a person’s life.
He said: “Some religions believe in scattering ashes into a river, so these can flow out into the sea, and then around the world. Many people dream of travelling the world during their lives, but with so much to see, it isn't always possible.
“At Wesley Offshore, we are committed to making it easy for people to know how to carry out the scattering of ashes. We're proud to be able to broadcast our services, so that loved ones from far and wide can be a part of the celebration of life and the final farewell, wherever they may be.
"Our offering is very unlimited, completely bespoke and the perfect choice for those who had a deep love for the sea."
To learn more about Wesley Offshore and their beautiful services, visit their website here.
