For Worldwide Release: December 2012
Release Number: M12PR18
‘Shark Wranglers’ team to be featured at 2012 International Workboat Show
In 2007, Chris Fischer created OCEARCH with a simple mission: to help raise awareness of global marine conservation and further research efforts into great white sharks. Since its inception, OCEARCH has raised over $10 million for shark research while leading scientific expeditions around the world’s oceans. The OCEARCH team was most recently featured on the hit television series ‘Shark Wranglers’ on the History Channel, receiving national acclaim for the team’s trailblazing research into the unsolved mysteries of great white sharks.
The conduit to the increasingly significant research findings of the OCEARCH team has been the MV OCEARH, a Cat-powered 126’ vessel equipped with a custom 75,000 hydraulic lift and research platform with the capability of handling 5,000 pound sharks. Repowered in 2011 with support from Milton Cat and Elite Diesel, the MV OCEARCH features 2x Cat 3412 engines, 1x C4.4 generator set and 1x C6.6 generator set while serving as an at-sea laboratory.
"In 2012 the engines of the MV OCEARCH were overhauled with genuine Cat parts, lowering our emission levels and reducing fuel consumption by 20 percent," says OCEARCH Founding Chairman Chris Fischer. "The new Cat generators literally paid for themselves in less than half a year because of their efficiency." He adds: "The Global Dealer Network, combined with the increased reliability and efficiency of the engine room, truly makes our progress possible - anywhere, anytime."
The OCEARCH team’s relentless drive to preserve marine environments strongly parallels Caterpillar’s unwavering commitment to global sustainability. Recently named for the eleventh straight year to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Caterpillar’ sustainability mission is to enable economic growth through infrastructure and energy development, and to provide solutions that protect people and preserve the planet. The company, as well as the global Cat dealer network, actively works on a daily basis to promote sustainable solutions for customers such as the OCEARCH team.
“At Caterpillar, we are not only proud of what we make, but also what we make possible,” noted Chris Bosley, Caterpillar Marine Power Systems marketing manager. “The strength of the global Cat dealer network uniquely positions Caterpillar to support the OCEARCH team no matter where in the world their research takes them. Our partnership with OCEARCH is an exemplary example of how Caterpillar goes beyond providing solutions to enable our customers to achieve values-driven results.”
The OCEARCH team will be featured at the Caterpillar booth at the upcoming International
WorkBoat Show held December 5th- 7th in New Orleans, LA. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the booth to meet the team behind the ‘Shark Wranglers’ television show and learn more about OCEARCH and Caterpillar’s sustainability efforts.
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