[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14449]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING YALE CORDAGE

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, it is no secret that my home State 
of Maine boasts an expansive coastline, unmatched in beauty. With its 
numerous bays and inlets, this coastline provides endless opportunities 
for the many industries that have come to be known as quintessentially 
Maine, including commercial fishing, shipbuilding, and pleasure 
boating. One excellent example is Yale Cordage of Saco, ME, a small 
business dedicated to manufacturing quality products used by industries 
throughout Maine and the world.
  Founded in 1950 by O. Sherman Yale, Yale Cordage introduced synthetic 
fiber to the commercial fishing industry when it began manufacturing 
ropes. For 20 years its focus remained on commercial fishing; however, 
it expanded its product line to provide ropes for the pleasure marine 
marketplace when Yale's son Tom, an avid sailor, joined the company. 
From there, Yale Cordage began building its reputation as a leader in 
the pleasure marine industry by introducing technologically innovative 
products and, through Tom's leadership as President of the Cordage 
Institute, influencing industry standards. Moreover, in 1983 Australia 
II won the America's Cup for yacht sailing using all Yale Cordage 
rigging. But Yale Cordage's desire to seek new markets did not stop 
there.
  Recognizing certain limitations of the pleasure marine market, Yale 
Cordage sought new ways to use its products in different industries. 
Now, Yale Cordage's products are not only found on boats but throughout 
the world and in a variety of capacities. For example, Central Maine 
Power uses Yale Cordage's products to string new power lines while Bath 
Iron Works uses them in the destroyer class of naval warships. You can 
find Yale Cordage products in the ocean for use with offshore oil rigs, 
beneath the Earth's surface in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, in the 
sky on the Hood Blimp, at the tops of trees with arborist climbers, and 
recently at Niagara Falls when Yale Cordage rope was used in the 
hoisting and securing process for the world's first tightrope walk 
directly over the falls. The National Data Buoy Center trusts Yale 
Cordage products to moor weather buoys critical in the tracking of 
storms, including the recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Even our 
armed services have taken advantage of Yale Cordage's quality products: 
the U.S. Army uses Yale Cordage ropes to remove tanks from ditches in 
Afghanistan, and the Navy SEALs use it when rappelling from 
helicopters.
  Through hard work, ingenuity, and determination, Yale Cordage has 
evolved from a commercial fishing rope supplier to a $20 million 
company that manufactures rope for a wide range of industries. It now 
operates a state-of-the-art facility, and provides jobs for 75 people 
in my home State. Yale Cordage is a shining example of the 
entrepreneurial spirit of Maine. I am proud to commend everyone at Yale 
Cordage on their success and offer my best wishes for the 
future.

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