Athlete and climate advocate Michael Walther plans to paddle from Europe to South America to raise awareness for ocean conservation. Logistics leader Gebrüder Weiss, a supporter of sustainable mobility since 2021, is backing the challenge.
International transport and logistics organization Gebrüder Weiss announces its role as the official logistics partner of water sports enthusiast and environmental activist Michael Walther, as he attempts to set a World Record by crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). At the end of September, Walther, based in Keil, Germany will embark on this extraordinary mission. If he succeeds, he will become the first European to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo and unsupported on a SUP. While he’ll be alone on the water, he won’t be alone on land. Logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss will support the journey overland and across the sea.
The logistics specialists at Gebrüder Weiss’s Hamburg, Germany branch are managing the complex transportation needs for this custom-built SUP board. The board will first travel overland from Kiel to Lagos in Portugal, where Walther’s Atlantic crossing will begin. From there, he will paddle past the Canary and Cape Verde Islands before reaching his final destination in French Guiana. Once he lands in the port of Cayenne, Gebrüder Weiss will ship the board back to Kiel via sea freight using a certified climate-neutral process, made possible through verified insetting within the logistics chain.
“Michael Walther is drawing attention to marine conservation through an unconventional form of mobility and we are proud to support this mission as his logistics partner,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss.
Collecting Scientific Data for the Alfred Wegener Institute
Walther expects the crossing to take approximately three months. He deliberately chose not to use a support vessel or receive any external assistance. During the journey, he’ll deploy a hydrophone to record the sounds of marine life. These audio recordings will be shared with the Alfred Wegener Institute, one of Germany’s leading marine research institutions, to support ongoing climate impact studies on ocean ecosystems.
This isn’t Walther’s first bold move for climate action. Since 2008, he has undertaken high-profile expeditions to raise awareness of climate and environmental issues. Past projects include paddling across Germany by river and traveling through Iceland to document glacial melt.
GWcycles: A Shared Commitment to Clean Oceans
Gebrüder Weiss is also actively engaged in another initiative to protect the world’s oceans. Through the global cycling campaign GWcycles – Cycling for the Seas, the company is inviting participants around the world to log their bike mileage in support of ocean health. For every 100,000 kilometers (62,137 miles) cycled, Gebrüder Weiss funds the removal of one metric ton (2,240 pounds) of ocean plastic. Since the campaign’s launch in April 2025, six tons (13,228 pounds) of marine debris have already been collected. Walther is a dedicated supporter of the initiative, helping amplify public awareness around the shared mission to protect our seas.
More information about Gebrüder Weiss’s sustainability efforts can be found at https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility and on the company’s social media channels. Since 2021, Gebrüder Weiss has been actively supporting innovation projects in sustainable transportation, collaborating with universities, research institutions, and startups.
