End of the 2025 mission year

Newsletter dated November 19, 2025:

Do you sometimes hear people around you asking, “What’s the situation in the Mediterranean like this year? You hardly hear anything about it in the media.” After ten NADIR missions in 2025, we have a clear answer to this question: the situation for refugees remains dramatic and dangerous. That is why our work will continue after the winter shipyard.

Review of the NADIR 2025 missions

From early March to mid-November, our crews were on duty this year to help refugees in distress at sea. Each of the ten missions showed that this work is still necessary. We were able to assist 1,855 people on 32 boats. That’s 1,855 individual lives that our work makes a difference to. And every single one of them is worth it. Unfortunately, we have repeatedly had to learn the sad lesson that we cannot always be there in time. We are aware that we must respond to emergencies and continue to demand political solutions to this structurally caused disaster in the Mediterranean.

We are grateful for every person we have been able to help. Just how close joy and sorrow are to each other became particularly clear in the summer when our crew found a boat with 36 survivors who had already been at sea for six days. However, 16 people had already gone overboard. Fortunately, the crew found twelve of these people floating in the water a short time later and were able to rescue them as well. But four others remain missing.

You can find detailed mission reports on our website. The NADIR is now scheduled to enter winter dry dock so that it will be ready for service again in 2026.

State arbitrariness and repression

Im laufenden Jahr wurde uns die Arbeit von staatlicher Seite massiv erschwert. Zweimal innerhalb von vier Wochen wurde unser Segelschiff, die NADIR, von den italienischen Behörden festgesetzt und jeweils für 20 Tage daran gehindert, Menschen in Not zu helfen. Beide Festsetzungen, sowohl im Juni als auch im Juli, erachten wir als willkürlich und unrechtmäßig. Wir setzen uns auch juristisch zur Wehr. Unsere Crews halten sich an das geltende Recht, stehen immer im direkten Kontakt mit den zuständigen Behörden und befolgen die rechtskonformen Anweisungen.

The aggression of the so-called Libyan coast guard, which operates with the support of the European Union, has increased. These units, often consisting of brutal militias, are expanding their area of operation more and more, dragging people back to civil war-torn Libya and acting ruthlessly against refugees and civilian aid workers. This is documented by shots fired at refugees and at a civilian rescue ship. All support from Europe must be stopped immediately.

Annual Report 2024

Our detailed annual reports provide information about our relief efforts, explain the situation for refugees in the Mediterranean region, address demands on politicians and society, and create transparency about all of the association’s work and finances. You can find the report for 2024 with all the details on our website.

Crewing call for missions in 2026

In 2026, we must assume that, due to the situation in their countries of origin and in the countries of departure, Libya and Tunisia, numerous people will risk the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean in the hope of a better and safer life. Crewing for NADIR’s missions in 2026 is already in preparation. Would you like to get involved? Feel free to apply directly using our crewing form.

Winter shipyard and planning for the new operational year: We need donations!

To ensure that our crews can continue to monitor the escape route and support people in distress at sea in 2026, we need financial support for the upcoming winter shipyard for the NADIR and preparations for the coming operational year.

Help us actively and donate now: choose an amount on our website or become a supporting member and secure our operations in the long term with monthly contributions of your own choosing. A human life is priceless – our work is not!

Thank you very much for your support and solidarity!

Best regards,

Stefen | Chairman of the Board, RESQSHIP e.V.

Event information: Film screening and discussion Screening of the film “Save our Souls” followed by a discussion between civil sea rescue workers, researchers, and politicians. Date: November 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m. Free admission Registration via email Location: Alabama Cinema, Jarrestraße 20, 22303 Hamburg All proceeds from the evening will be donated directly and in full to the Augsburg branch of RESQSHIP. Documentary theater performance “See not Rescue” followed by a discussion event Three actors—including survivors—tell their stories and share their views. Also on stage: trombonist Conny Bauer. Other panelists include Franziska Grillmeier, Stephan Neher (CDU), and Sylvia Kunze (SPD). Date: November 28, 2025, 8:00 p.m. Admission: €5 Advance booking here Location: Landungsbrücken, Frankfurt am Main A production by Kamara Theater. The event was co-organized by the RESQSHIP Group Rhine-Main. Charity concert “Der Mond ist aufgegangen” Classical song recital with Markus Kimmich and Stefan Barcsay. A captain of the NADIR, Friedrich Reich, will be present that evening. Date: November 29, 2025, 7:30 p.m. Admission: €12/€15 Advance registration by phone at 0821-45098231 Location: Das Brechthaus Augsburg, Auf dem Rain 7, 86152 Augsburg All proceeds from the evening will be donated directly and in full to the Augsburg branch of RESQSHIP.

Image rights: Paula Gaess, Pietro Bertora, Barbara Sartore | RESQSHIP e.V.