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Company Overview

Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 by environmental activist Paul Watson. The international NGO’s mission: to protect marine wildlife and ecosystems through nonviolent, direct action.

Today, Sea Shepherd operates worldwide with more than 20 national branches and a fleet of over a dozen ships. The German branch, Sea Shepherd Germany, conducts campaigns in the Baltic Sea and along the North Sea coast to recover ghost nets, expose illegal fishing, and protect marine ecosystems sustainably.

The Challenge

Sea Shepherd Germany operates in a decentralized structure, with teams spread across multiple locations, warehouses, and ships. While this setup allows flexibility, it complicates the precise management of thousands of items—from maritime gear and boat parts to IT and media equipment.

The annual inventory process required not only considerable time but also extreme accuracy. Missing information about equipment or its location could delay missions—a serious issue in an organization where every minute counts. It became clear: a centralized digital solution was needed to efficiently manage logistics, tracking, and accountability.

The Solution

While evaluating software solutions, Sea Shepherd Germany found Timly to be the “gem” among the options. Today, the organization uses Timly as a central platform to manage all assets—both on land and at sea—in a clear, organized way.

Timly’s structure enables precise tracking of equipment, such as all items assigned to the ship Triton. Whether diving gear, safety equipment, or spare parts, all assets are digitally recorded, quickly retrievable via QR code, and clearly assigned to each mission team.

Thanks to mobile access, volunteers can use Timly on the go. New assets can be recorded, damages documented, or maintenance tasks reported—directly from the deck with just a few clicks.

Another key advantage: Timly’s user management allows assigning specific access rights. Each team member sees exactly the information they need for their tasks—transparent, secure, and easy to use.

The Results

With Timly, Sea Shepherd Germany has modernized and simplified its entire inventory management—whether teams are on land or out at sea.

Today, they benefit from:

  • Complete transparency over the location and condition of all equipment
  • Clearly defined responsibilities
  • Significant time savings during inventory checks and mission preparations
  • Intuitive mobile use for greater field flexibility
  • Reliable documentation for every mission

Key Takeaways

  • Digital processes can succeed even in dynamic NGO structures
  • Centralized data collection saves time and reduces errors
  • Mobile access is crucial for decentralized, mission-driven teams
  • Clear access rights ensure security and accountability
  • Technology frees valuable resources, allowing organizations like Sea Shepherd to focus on what matters most: protecting the oceans

At Timly, we are proud to simplify the daily operations of such an important organization. Their tireless work plays a vital role in preserving today’s marine ecosystems for generations to come.

Photo: Sea Shepherd Germany