Making Waves for a Sustainable Future: Holcim-PRB Celebrates Ocean Action in Kiel
At the start of The Ocean Race Europe in Kiel, among the many exciting sailing events, Team Holcim-PRB took the time to celebrate their sustainability efforts: the official inauguration of the 20-meter-long artificial reef donated by Holcim to the city, and the Ocean Race Summit, a platform for advancing ocean health and climate action.
Skipper Rosalin Kuiper, a passionate ocean advocate, was present at both events, sharing her dedication to marine conservation alongside teammate Nicolas Lunven. But advocacy also means action, such as collecting oceanographic data while sailing, or restoring ocean ecosystems when returning to land.
The team’s donation of the artificial reef in Friedrichsort, Kiel, is a tangible step toward supporting biodiversity and restoring marine ecosystems. Installed in June 2025, the reef integrates a range of Holcim’s innovative coastal protection solutions, from 3D-printed fish hotels to bioactive concrete.
As part of Holcim’s GO CIRCULAR campaign, Team Holcim-PRB is equipped with an OceanPack system that continuously collects ocean data, including CO₂ levels, temperature, salinity, and oxygen across some of the most remote and under-sampled parts of the world. These insights are vital to understanding the impact of climate change on our oceans and feed directly into scientific databases used by leading institutions.
Kuiper also joined a panel of ocean advocates to discuss the role of offshore sailing in advancing science and ocean protection. The session brought together leading voices, including Toste Tanhua from GEOMAR, who validates the ocean data collected onboard Team Holcim-PRB; Kate Larkin from EMODnet, the European Marine Observation and Data Network, where this data is shared for open scientific access; and Boris Herrmann, skipper of Team Malizi
Being an ocean ambassador means showing how performance and purpose can go hand in hand,” said Kuiper. “It’s not just about winning — it’s about racing with a bigger mission: to inspire, to educate, and to protect the place we call home.
This summit conversation reaffirmed the power of sport to drive awareness, action, and collaboration across science, industry, and society, advancing shared goals for Purpose, People, and Performance. From science to local impact, Team Holcim-PRB is proudly leading by example, committed to protecting our blue planet.
