Caterpillar to Sponsor OCEARCH, Performing Global Shark Research on the Ocean

Photo: Mothership Vessel Ocearch approaches Guadalupe Island at first daylight

Caterpillar Inc. and OCEARCH have agreed to a multi-year partnership that will help propel the OCEARCH organization’s global research on sharks. OCEARCH has led 15 expeditions to safely research the breeding, feeding, migration and birthing patterns of these ocean creatures.

“Most people think sharks are invincible,” said OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer. “But they are in real danger*. We must find a sustainable path forward because sharks play a crucial role in maintaining balance in the delicate oceanic ecosystem. Now, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Caterpillar, we can continue our critical research expeditions that generate the data needed to inform policy makers, students and the general public on this issue.”

Fischer’s vessel, the MV OCEARCH, already relies on Cat® power in the water. The boat with its team of scientists and crew runs on two Cat engines and has three Cat generators on board that power an at-sea laboratory, custom-built hydraulic lift and  55,000-pound capacity research platform with the capability of handling 5,000-pound sharks.

“OCEARCH’s significant work is advancing our knowledge and sustaining the waters that are so vital to people and economies around the world,” said Tom Frake, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Marine and Petroleum Power Division. “The fact he’s a loyal Cat customer is an added bonus. We’re proud to associate our two brands, which share common values, high levels of success and a commitment to sustainability.”

Because OCEARCH’s work occurs in waters around the globe, Fischer understands and depends on the unmatched support of Caterpillar’s network of dealers.

“Seconds matter in our research,” said Fischer. “The last thing you want is your power supply to fail when you’re trying to tag a two-ton great white shark on the hydraulic lift. If we need a part, I know a call to the local Cat dealer will be answered quickly, and we’ll be back in business. The dependability of Cat equipment along with their global dealer network makes them the ultimate global enabler for our research, and we are proud to call them a partner.”

“Chris doesn’t have to be shown the benefit Caterpillar’s business model can bring to his operation—he intrinsically understands the value because he’s lived it for years,” said Caterpillar Global Brand Marketing Manager Diane Lantz-Rickard. “He believes in our products and support; we believe in the work he’s doing for our planet. It's a satisfying match.”

OCEARCH embarks on its first Caterpillar-funded expedition on February 21, 2013. When his crew leaves Jacksonville, Florida, they’ll spend the following 20 days at sea conducting critical research on great white sharks with leading researchers such as Dr. Greg Skomal of the State of Massachusetts and Dr. Robert Hueter of Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida.

*The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has determined that of the shark and ray species assessed, 30 percent are threatened or near-threatened with extinction.