Yale Cordage, a custom and speciality rope manufacturer, today announced it is developing versions of rope to withstand the damage that fish and shark bites can do to the worldwide tsunami warning system.
Partnering with the National Data Buoy Center and the Oklahoma Aquarium, research proved that aggressive bull sharks could bite through the mooring lines of critical warning buoys, rendering them and the data they collect useless in the event of severe weather and tsunami activity.
As a result of the study’s findings, Yale Cordage developed a shark-proof, resistant rope that fits the requirements of the US Government to secure these important pieces of equipment.
Yale Cordage president Bill Putnam stated: "We’re proud to be apart of a project that will lead to a more stable buoy system, and by extension, help America as well as the world better prepare for devastating natural disasters."
Oklahoma Aquarium deputy director Kenny Alexopoulos said: "The Oklahoma Aquarium is a science and education-based facility, so it is extremely gratifying to see that our unique bull shark collection can contribute to such a worthy and worldly cause."
"The National Data Buoy Center has been very pleased with the performance of the first-generation of fish bite-resistant rope, and is looking forward to evaluating the performance of the second iteration of the product," said NDBC chief of engineering Craig Kohler.
The Oklahoma Aquarium is the only location in the country with a large population of bull sharks in captivity. Representatives from the Oklahoma Aquarium and Yale Cordage cooperated on a National
Data Buoy Center-designed experiment to collect data in order to both confirm the damaging effects of sharks on mooring lines and assess the properties of rope necessary to effectively tether the buoys and protect them from damage; all at a cost within the government’s design parameters.
While Yale Cordage already produces Shark Byte™, an incredibly strong rope that is used around the world to withstand extreme abrasion, a new product is now in development to meet the government’s requirements.
For more information on the National Data Buoy Center visit the company website.