As cremations rise, Singapore to pilot ferry service for scattering ashes at sea from 2027

As cremations rise, Singapore to pilot ferry service for scattering ashes at sea from 2027



The NEA will pilot a ferry service from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal from 2027 for the scattering of cremated remains at sea. — AsiaOne pic


Summary

• The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore will introduce a two-year pilot ferry service in the latter half of 2027 for scattering cremated remains at sea due to rising demand as cremation rates increase.
• Scheduled to operate weekly from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal, this service aims to provide cost-effective options, with a $50 fee per application, while accommodating multiple groups per vessel.
• The NEA will assess its long-term feasibility through public feedback and monitor public response, amid projections of rising annual deaths and increasing preference for ash scattering services.

First Published: Monday, 12 Oct 2026 5:01 PM MYT


OCTOBER 12 — The National Environment Agency (NEA) will launch a two-year pilot ferry service for the scattering of cremated remains at sea in the second half of 2027, it said today.

The pilot is being introduced in response to growing demand for ash scattering as the number of cremations in Singapore rises.

“As Singapore’s population ages, demand for after-death services is expected to grow,” the agency stated.


The ferry service will operate weekly from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal, under the management of an operator appointed by NEA.


Multiple groups will be allowed to board each vessel for cost-effectiveness. A fee of $50 per application applies, NEA said.

The agency will monitor uptake of the service and gather feedback to assess the service’s long-term viability.

More details on the pilot ferry service, including the ash scattering site, booking arrangements and procedures, will be released ahead of its launch in 2027.


The agency also shared that annual deaths are expected to increase from 26,500 in 2025 to about 40,000 by 2040.

Currently, around 82 per cent of those who pass away in Singapore are cremated, with take-up of inland ash scattering growing since the option was introduced in 2021.

The proportion of cremations where ashes were scattered at inland ash scattering facilities rose to about 12 per cent in 2025, up from about seven per cent in 2022.

According to findings from the Study on Wake Spaces conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore, around 42 per cent of respondents indicated a preference for ash scattering.

As for the type of ash scattering, 27 per cent shared their preference for ash scattering at sea, while 15 per cent preferred utilising inland facilities.

At present, the agency has been expanding capacity across government-managed facilities, such as the opening of The Garden of Serenity at Mandai North Crematorium in August 2025.

The Garden of Serenity is Singapore’s second inland ash scattering facility.

NEA deputy chief executive officer and director-general of public health Chew Ming Fai said that as needs and preferences evolve, the agency is committed to providing “more options for people making after-death arrangements for their loved ones”.

“This pilot will make the scattering of ashes at sea more accessible, while allowing us to better understand demand and shape the service to meet their needs.” — AsiaOne

***

As a very young teen, together with my young adult cousin, I conducted a scattering of my paternal grandmother's ashes (and small piece of post-cremated bones - just wee chips) at sea - off the old Esplanade. It was her wish to have her remains scattered at sea. After the cremation at the old Thai Temple in Batu Lancang we collected the bones and some ashes and sought an off-duty fisherman to rent his boat for the last journey for Granny. 

The sea at that time was pretty rough with strong winds prevailing - t'was scary in a boat especially without any life jackets though I could swim a bit but alas not my poor frightened cousin.

We wanted to ensure the scattered remains would not be washed ashore so in our childish beliefs, we wanted to go out as far as possible, way way out from the shore. That wasn't a brilliant idea as we just scared ourselves to bits. But eventually we arrived at the target point, and in reality, more persuaded by the old fisherman, we felt the distance from the shore was far enough (our relatives at shore were hardly visible by then) to ensure granny's post-cremation remains won't be washed back to shore, well, at least not immediately.

The current Sing proposal would have been most welcomed by my cousin and me but alas that was decades ago, wakakaka.