Humanity 2: A sailing ship for human rights
Till Rummenhol is the Managing Director of SOS Humanity. He has been contributing his knowledge from his studies in marine engineering and shipbuilding as well as his many years of experience in civil search and rescue to SOS Humanity for years.
In the following interview, Till explains why the civil fleet needs another ship and how SOS Humanity plans to realise this.
SOS Humanity would like to send a second ship into action, how come?
There are still too few rescue ships in the Central Mediterranean. In addition, a large number of civil rescue ships are less actively involved in rescue operations than necessary due to obstructive measures by the Italian authorities, such as the assigning of distant ports or detentions. The sea area off Tunisia in particular, the so-called Tunisian corridor, is a part of the Mediterranean where incidents remain largely unknown: maritime emergencies and accidents, violent and illegal repatriations and associated human rights violations. The new Humanity 2 ship is to be deployed there in particular.
Why exactly a sailing ship?
A large sailing ship can be used particularly efficiently in search and rescue operations: As a rescue and observation vessel, it is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, almost permanent and can also be used flexibly. By disembarking rescued people in nearby Lampedusa, long journeys to distant ports are no longer necessary. This means lower fuel costs but, above all, a quick return to the area of operation – where help is urgently needed for people in distress at sea.
Where is the new sailing ship Humanity 2 supposed to be on mission – and why?
The Humanity 2 will primarily be operating in the largely overlooked sea area off Tunisia. The crew will rescue people there and witness and document human rights violations. The larger rescue ships are not present in the so-called Tunisian corridor; instead, they search the long coast off Libya for emergencies at sea. However, in this Tunisian corridor between Tunisia and Lampedusa, the numbers of distress cases from boats that have set sail either in Tunisia or in western Libya accumulate. These mostly go unnoticed, as do the human rights violations that take place there. We want to change this with the saiing ship Humanity 2.
Why is the sea area off Tunisia so dangerous for refugees?
The Tunisian corridor is considered particularly dangerous because many people – especially those fleeing Tunisia – try to reach Lampedusa on unsuitable boats. These boats can sink within seconds as soon as water enters. In addition, satellite phones are banned in Tunisia, making it almost impossible to report emergencies. As a result, many accidents go unreported. Since the establishment of a Tunisian search and rescue zone in June 2024, the risk of pull-backs by the Tunisian authorities has also risen sharply. According to eyewitness reports, human rights are often massively violated, which is hardly observed and documented.
When will the sailing ship set on its rescue mission?
After being transferred to Sicily, the sailing ship will be converted into a rescue vessel at the Licata shipyard. As Humanity 2, it will be converted in such a way that it can take in over 100 survivors and provide them with the essentials, including a small on-board clinic. The conversion, which will begin in November 2025, will take several months. The Humanity 2 should be ready for action in spring 2026, by June at the latest.
How do you plan to finance the additional costs for the purchase and conversion?
We are paying just over 725,000 euros for the Humanity 2. The previous owners have accommodated us. The conversion and outfitting of the sailing ship will probably cost around 170,000 euros. Many volunteer helping hands will provide support. The financing is not easy, but we are convinced that civil society will also stand up for this urgently needed rescue ship – also with financial support. Because saving lives is a duty!
And your first ship, Humanity 1?
Operating both ships at the same time will be a financial challenge that we are facing optimistically and with great energy. As a small NGO with comparatively low administrative costs, our overall budget remains very manageable, even for two rescue ships – with great impact: SOS Humanity has rescued over 4,600 people from distress at sea in three years of operation with Humanity 1. With the additional sailing ship Humanity 2, we can rescue more people and create more visibility for the humanitarian emergency and violations of the law, even in the often-overlooked Tunisian corridor.
Interview and editing by Juliane, intern in the field of online communication.
