Holcim Immerses Artificial Reef in Kiel Harbor to Support Ocean Health
Holcim has taken a major step toward ocean regeneration with the installation of an artificial reef in Kiel Friedrichsort, Germany. The initiative fulfills a promise made by Team Holcim-PRB after skipper Nicolas Lunven successfully completed the Vendée Globe in January 2025. As part of our pledge to support marine biodiversity, the team donated the reef—now immersed in a previously barren area of the harbor—as a tangible contribution to ocean health.
Kiel, a maritime hub and the starting point of the upcoming The Ocean Race Europe, was a logical choice for the project. Installed over two days alongside the Friedrichsort pier, the 20-meter-long reef is designed to revitalize the local marine ecosystem. The structure incorporates Holcim’s innovative marine solutions: CO₂-reduced XStones, bioactive concrete elements, and 3D-printed components. These materials promote algae growth and provide critical habitat for small marine life and fish species such as cod, with specially developed “fish hotels” offering additional shelter and breeding spaces.
The artificial reef at the Friedrichsort Pier is a boost for marine conservation. It not only provides ecological compensation for the modernization and accessibility of the pier but also promotes biodiversity and the natural protection of the marine environment. Such innovative projects show how sustainable coastal protection and nature conservation can go hand in hand — an important step for preserving our marine habitats.
The reef project reflects Holcim’s broader commitment to sustainability. The reef’s XStones, typically used in hydraulic engineering, have been reimagined here to support biodiversity, creating underwater structures with large surface areas and sheltered cavities.
Crucial to the reef’s realization were the collaborative efforts of the City of Kiel’s Civil Engineering Office and regional environmental authorities. Holcim also continues to contribute to ocean science globally, with Team Holcim-PRB collecting data on water temperature, salinity, CO₂, and oxygen during races—supporting international climate research.
With the Kiel reef, Holcim advances its mission to build progress for people and the planet—both above and below the waterline.
