Silicon Fire AG takes significant stake in Cresta Motor Yachts

by Cresta Motor Yachts on 5 Oct 2010 Iconic Australian luxury motor yacht brand, Cresta Motor Yachts Limited, is pleased to announce that Swiss based company ‘Silicon Fire AG’ has taken a significant and strategic stake in the Company.

This Exclusive Relationship will see Cresta, in conjunction with Silicon Fire, initially develop a number of world first motor yachts, specifically employing carbon neutral, silicon-based methanol powered engines. These world class vessels will be launched at a series of Clean Fuel Events in Australia in 2011/12.

Cresta’s in-house naval architects will begin working in conjunction with Silicon Fire AG, to produce the range of motor yachts that will showcase Silicon Fire’s flagship models in South East Asia and Australia for their alternative methanol fuel. These vessels will be manufactured in addition to Cresta’s current range of luxury motor yachts (62 Open Flybridge, 66 Enclosed Flybridge and 70 Motor Yacht) based on diesel propulsion in the form of pods, as well as shaft drive vessels.

The incorporation of Silicon-based methanol powered engines creates a revolutionary energy carrier, providing a drastically reduced carbon footprint, as silicon-based methanol is carbon dioxide neutral. Silicon Fire has developed a process to synthesize the liquid combustible fuel, which is envisioned as a viable substitute to petrol.

Silicon Fire is already a proven technology where recent tests in Italy astounded onlookers with the 16 metre (55 feet) purpose built Silicon Fire vessel achieving supreme performance and a top speed of 70 knots. Nobel Prize winning Chemist, Professor G.A Olah predicted, 'Methanol is going to be the fuel of the future'.

Silicon-based methanol is very stable, powerful, has a high reliability, is regenerative, only requires minor adaptations of combustion engines and can utilise existing infrastructure. A number of key projects, currently being undertaken by Silicon Fire reveal that silicon-based methanol could provide a substitution for fossil fuels and will have other related applications.

Assisting Dr Peter Grauer on the Cresta Project will be one of his senior advisers, Mr Pascal Najadi, former Director of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, London. He recently commented, 'Cresta Motor Yachts will gain significant global recognition in its industry for spearheading the movement towards clean energy based vessels. Cresta and Silicon Fire AG is the perfect clean propulsion and energy match for the future.'

Cresta Motor Yachts, renowned for its leading edge design and very high quality motor yacht production was identified through a global search by Silicon Fire AG as the ideal boat building partner to design and manufacture these vessels. Cresta’s team is currently planning a range of events to launch the new relationship, commencing at the 2011 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

The evolving partnership will also see Silicon Fire’s Founder, Dr Peter Grauer appointed to the Board of Cresta and ultimately fulfilling an active role in the development and promotion of Cresta Motor Yachts.

Adrian Ballintine, President Cresta Motor Yachts said: 'This is a very exciting chapter in the evolution of Cresta Motor Yachts. We are delighted to be involved in a project which supports and promotes eco friendly vessels of a world class standard. Cresta envisions Australia as the home of renewable energy and carbon neutral fuel. Cresta can spearhead this revolution through the active participation and initial establishment of a network of Silicon Fire plants, across the country.

'We are thrilled that Silicon Fire AG have recognised the outstanding quality of the Cresta brand and then proceeded to take a strategic stake in the Company. We look forward to unveiling the vessels in 2011 at a series of Clean Fuel Events across Australia.'

Dr Peter Grauer, Founder Silicon Fire said: 'We immediately recognised that Cresta would be an ideal partner for us in our ambition to develop and launch a series of vessels with eco friendly and superior silicon-based methanol powered engines. We don’t want to substitute the existing energy sources completely, but rather, want to create future-oriented alternatives in consideration of the market trends for conventional energies. This is an exciting endeavor and Silicon Fire is pleased to be leading the move into alternative energy carrier based vessels.

'The selection of a Company to manufacture the vessels was a critical component to the ongoing success of this project. I am confident that Cresta has the capability of delivering high quality and innovative vessels on a world-class-scale, whilst also encompassing a green ethos.' 'Quality, workmanship and dependability have been consistently delivered by Cresta since the Company began in 1965. It is these ideals that caught my attention and that will ultimately underpin the success of the newly formed relationship between Silicon Fire and Cresta Motor Yachts.'

More at www.crestamotoryachts.com