Sos Humanity E.v

What Sos Humanity E.v does

SOS Humanity E.V. is a Berlin-registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2015 that conducts civil search-and-rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea, one of the world's deadliest migration routes. The organization operates two rescue vessels, the primary ship Humanity 1 and the sailing vessel Humanity 2 (acquired November 2025 and undergoing conversion at a shipyard in Licata, Italy), which conduct SAR missions, provide immediate medical and psychological care to survivors, and transport rescued persons to assigned safe ports under Italian coordination. A Berlin headquarters in Kreuzberg houses approximately 30 full and part-time staff, with an operations support base in Syracuse, Sicily, and rotating marine crews on board both ships. Since inception, SOS Humanity reports rescuing approximately 40,000 people from distress at sea.

The organization's revenue model is entirely donation-based, comprising regular monthly donations starting from €25, one-time donations (€18-€360 tiers), corporate donations, legacy/testamentary gifts, and, most recently, a crowdfunding investment channel via the GLS Crowd platform with €250 minimum investments to finance Humanity 2. As a civil society actor, SOS Humanity supplements direct rescue with documentation of human rights violations (illegal pushbacks, violence by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard) and policy advocacy, including petition submissions to the German Bundestag and a memorandum delivered to the prospective federal government in June 2026. In November 2025, SOS Humanity co-founded the Justice Fleet, a coalition of 13 sea rescue organizations coordinating legal defense against ship detentions under Italy's Piantedosi Law (in effect since January 2, 2023), which has immobilized 41 civil rescue vessels for a cumulative 1,075 days.

SOS Humanity's operating environment has deteriorated materially in 2025-2026. The German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz cancelled all civil sea rescue funding in June 2025, removing approximately €785,000 in planned grants, and broader humanitarian sector cuts produced a total financing gap of €2.1 million, prompting a public emergency donation appeal branded "Rettung in Gefahr." Separately, Italian authorities have repeatedly detained Humanity 1 under the Piantedosi regime, including a 20-day detention on December 9, 2025 and a 60-day detention with €10,000 fine on February 13, 2026, materially constraining mission tempo. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Laura Gorriahn with deputy chairs Lisa Bogerts and Johannes Remy, treasurer Klaus Linsenmeier, and managing director (Geschäftsführer) Till Rummenhohl.

Name

Sos Humanity E.v

Legal name

SOS Humanity e.V.

Website

https://sos-humanity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOS Humanity E.V. is a Berlin-based nonprofit founded in 2015 that conducts civil sea rescue operations in the central Mediterranean for refugees and migrants, operating two vessels (Humanity 1 and Humanity 2), funded entirely by donations, and advocating against illegal pushbacks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Humanitarian Search and Rescue

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Civil sea rescue
• Humanitarian aid services
• Refugee protection advocacy
• Mediterranean search rescue
• Human rights documentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization is financed entirely by donations from supporters. Regular donations provide planning security and enable long-term life-saving operations.
2. Crowdfunding Investment: Through GLS Crowd platform, individuals can invest starting from €250 to support the purchase, retrofit, and initial operations of the Humanity 2 rescue ship.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations as one of several donation mechanisms available on the website.
4. Testamentary Donations: Legacy giving through testamentary donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SOS Humanity E.V. conducts civil search-and-rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea using two vessels (Humanity 1 and Humanity 2), rescuing refugees and migrants from distress at sea and providing immediate humanitarian assistance including water, food, hygiene items, medical care, and psychological support. The organization also documents human rights violations, advocates for refugee protection policies, and submits petitions to decision-makers. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded entirely by donations.

Product overview

SOS Humanity E.V. is a humanitarian sea rescue organization operating rescue ships in the central Mediterranean Sea. The core offering consists of two rescue vessels: Humanity 1 (the primary rescue ship conducting search and rescue operations) and Humanity 2 (a sailing ship being converted for rescue operations near Tunisia). The organization also offers support services including donation mechanisms (one-time, regular, corporate, and legacy donations), an online merchandise shop, and a petition platform for advocacy. All services are funded through donations and public support, with no commercial revenue model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Humanity 1: The primary rescue ship of SOS Humanity operating in the central Mediterranean
• Humanity 2

Products and services

• Humanity 1 Sea Rescue Operations Search-and-rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea, providing emergency rescue, water, food, hygiene items, medical care, psychological support, and safe transport to a European port for refugees and migrants in distress at sea.
• Humanity 2 Sailing Rescue Operations Sailing-vessel-based search-and-rescue operations targeting the Tunisia corridor in the central Mediterranean, filling a rescue gap where the so-called Libyan Coast Guard intercepts refugees and boat accidents often go unnoticed. Designed to be flexible, environmentally friendly, and able to reach safe ports such as Lampedusa quickly.
• Advocacy and Petition Services Documentation of human rights violations in the central Mediterranean, witness testimony, and operation of an online petition platform that submits demands — such as opposing German and European support for Libyan militias — to the German Bundestag and other decision-makers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 40,000 people rescued from distress at sea since 2015
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Justice FleetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Justice Fleet is a coalition of 13 sea rescue organizations founded in November 2025 to defend international law. The alliance challenges the unlawful detention of rescue ships in Italy and criticizes the outsourcing of search and rescue responsibilities to illegitimate and violent actors in Libya.
• Alarm PhonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlarm Phone is a watch service that receives emergency calls from boats in distress at sea and coordinates with rescue organizations like SOS Humanity to respond to emergencies.
• Sea-WatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in joint advocacy and rescue operations. Part of the Justice Fleet coalition.
• Mediterranea Saving HumansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in joint advocacy and rescue operations. Part of the Justice Fleet coalition.
• Doctors Without Borders (MSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in joint advocacy. Part of the Justice Fleet coalition.
• Sea-EyeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in joint advocacy. Mentioned in joint press conferences for 10 years of civil sea rescue.
• United4RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in joint advocacy. Mentioned in joint press conferences for 10 years of civil sea rescue.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Italian Red Cross / Croce Rossa Italiana: Italian humanitarian organization involved in migrant reception at ports and emergency relief operations in the Mediterranean migration context. Overlaps in humanitarian mission and Italy-based operations; broader mandate across health, emergency, and social assistance.
• Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Large international humanitarian medical organization that has conducted Mediterranean search and rescue operations (e.g., aboard the Aquarius and Geo Barents) and provides medical care to rescued migrants. Overlaps in mission and coalition advocacy; broader medical mandate.

Direct peers

• Sea-Watch e.V. German-based civil sea rescue organization operating rescue ships in the central Mediterranean, providing search and rescue for refugees and migrants. Direct peer in mission, geography, advocacy focus, and Justice Fleet coalition membership.
• Proactiva Open Arms: Spanish civil sea rescue organization operating the Open Arms rescue vessel primarily in the central Mediterranean. Comparable in mission, vessel operations, and exposure to Italian regulatory actions.
• Mediterranea Saving Humans: Italian civil sea rescue NGO operating the Mare Jonio rescue vessel in the central Mediterranean. Direct peer in SAR operations, advocacy, and Justice Fleet coalition membership.
• Sea-Eye e.V. German civil sea rescue organization operating ships such as the Sea-Eye 4 in the central Mediterranean. Direct peer in rescue operations, advocacy on refugee rights, and Justice Fleet coalition participation.
• MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station): International civil sea rescue organization that has operated rescue vessels in the central Mediterranean since 2014. Comparable in mission, donor-funded model, and SAR operations for migrants at sea.
• SOS Mediterranée: European civil sea rescue NGO operating the Aquarius rescue vessel in the central Mediterranean; SOS Humanity was originally founded as SOS Mediterranée's German branch before becoming independent. Directly comparable in operations, advocacy, and donor-funded model.

Others

• United4Rescue: German civil-society coalition that funds and supports civil sea rescue organizations including SOS Humanity. Comparable in advocacy and funding-pooling mission; differs as a coordinating/funding entity rather than direct SAR operator.
• Watch The Med – Alarm Phone: 24/7 emergency hotline for boats in distress in the Mediterranean, run by a network of activist organizations. Direct operational partner of SOS Humanity (distress call handoff), enabling peer comparability around the central Mediterranean SAR ecosystem rather than direct vessel competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sos-mediterranee-deutschland-e.v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sos Humanity E.v