Cremated remains may be scattered at sea under two-year pilot to be launched by NEA

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will launch a two-year pilot scheme from late 2027, allowing families to scatter cremated remains at sea. This service is in response to increasing demand for ash scattering, as cremation rates continue to rise. The pilot will see weekly ferry services departing from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal, operated by an agency-appointed operator.

Families will be required to pay a S$50 (US$39) application fee, which is significantly lower than the current S$320 (US$235) fee for scattering ashes at Singapore’s inland ash scattering gardens. The agency will monitor usage and gather feedback during the pilot to determine its long-term viability. Growing preference for ash scattering, driven by the aging population and the projection of annual deaths increasing from around 26,500 in 2025 to about 40,000 by 2040, is prompting this new option.

The proportion of cremations resulting in scattered ashes at inland facilities has risen from 7% in 2022 to 12% in 2025, with Singapore’s second inland facility, the Garden of Serenity, opening in August 2025.