What motivates people, such as politicians, artists, journalists, scholars, or church members, to position themselves in favor of civil sea rescue? And what meanings are attributed to the ships of search and rescue NGOs? This article explores these questions based on qualitative interviews conducted in Spain, Italy, and Germany, complemented by a critical discourse analysis of narratives about issues, norms, and values associated with the practical work of the NGOs. We find that, for their supporters, the rescue ships embody the possibility of a response to the routinized deaths in the Mediterranean and serve as a powerful counter-image to state inaction. Supporters view them as manifestations of civil society stepping in where states fail and as a tangible implementation of democratic values such as human rights. This support often links to broader political visions that call for a reimagined democracy based on the unconditional recognition of human dignity. By conceptually distinguishing between SAR NGOs and their support landscape, we show how both actors complement each other, thereby generating legitimacy and meaning through and beyond the immediate rescue activities.