Athlete and environmental activist Michael Walther plans to paddle from Europe to South America on a SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) to draw attention to protecting the oceans. The logistics company Gebrüder Weiss, which has been a supporter of sustainable mobility since 2021, supports this challenge as an official logistics partner.
At the end of September, water sports enthusiast and environmental activist Michael Walther, originally from Kiel (Germany), will embark on a remarkable mission: to become the first European to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone and without support on a SUP board. Although he will be alone on the water, he will not be on land – the logistics company Gebrüder Weiss is supporting the expedition as the official logistics partner of the project.
Gebrüder Weiss supports the world record attempt
The logistics specialists of the Gebrüder Weiss branch in Hamburg handle the complex transport of the SUP board built specifically for this expedition. The plaque will initially be transported by road, from Kiel to Lagos (Portugal), the starting point of the Atlantic crossing. From there, Michael Walther will paddle offshore, passing by the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, with the final destination in French Guiana. Once in the port of Cayenne, Gebrüder Weiss will transport the slab back to Kiel by sea using a climate-neutral process, made possible by verified sustainable actions in the logistics chain.
“Michael Walther draws attention to the preservation of the marine environment through an unconventional form of mobility – and we are proud to support this mission as a logistics partner,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany, Gebrüder Weiss.
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Scientific Data Collection for the Alfred Wegener Institute
Walther estimates that the crossing will take about three months. He deliberately chose not to use a support boat and not to receive outside assistance during the voyage. During the expedition, he will use a hydrophone to record the sounds of marine life. These audio recordings will be transmitted to the Alfred Wegener Institute – one of Germany’s most prestigious marine research centres – to support studies on the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems.
This is not the first courageous action taken by Walther to protect the climate. Since 2008, he has been organizing high-visibility expeditions aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues and climate change. His previous projects include crossing Germany by rowing on the river, and a trip through Iceland to document the melting of glaciers.
GWcycles: Shared commitment to clean oceans
Gebrüder Weiss is also actively involved in another initiative dedicated to protecting the oceans. Through the global cycling campaign GWcycles – Pedaling for the Oceans, the company invites participants from all over the world to record their kilometers ridden by bicycle in support of the health of the oceans.
For every 100,000 kilometres cycled, Gebrüder Weiss finances the extraction of one tonne of plastic from the oceans. Since the launch of the campaign in April 2025, six tons of marine litter have already been collected. Michael Walther is a dedicated supporter of the initiative, helping to raise public awareness around this shared mission to protect the seas and oceans.
More information about Gebrüder Weiss’ sustainability initiatives is available on the company’s website: https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility and on the official social media channels. Since 2021, Gebrüder Weiss has been actively supporting innovative projects in the field of sustainable mobility in partnership with universities, research centers and startups.
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