News Release

Osaka, Japan; Dunsborough, Australia, January 31st 2020 - Yanmar and Nauti-Craft today announce that both companies have entered into a technology transfer agreement with the purpose of commercializing Yanmar’s boats by utilizing Nauti-Craft’s patented marine suspension technology.

Cooperation between Yanmar and Nauti-Craft began in 2016 with Yanmar evaluating the technology by constructing a 10-meter Suspension Boat concept. Yanmar showcased the concept boat at the Japan International Boat Show in Yokohama in March 2018 where it was widely appreciated and confirmed the marketability of the technology.

Following the evaluation of this Concept Boat and further close cooperation to evaluate various market opportunities, Yanmar agreed to an expanded non-exclusive arrangement with Nauti-Craft. The agreement brings this cutting-edge technology under Yanmar’s R&D umbrella for further development and integration with the company’s advanced marine technologies, with a view to commercialization and mass production of the technology.

“We are very excited to be developing a boat that incorporates the latest technology in the marine domain,” said Masanobu Horii, the president of Yanmar Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. “The enhanced stability of the boat gives it smoother handling which results in enhanced boat safety and reduces passenger fatigue.“

“Yanmar is a great global company with a rich marine heritage,” said Nauti-Craft founder Chris Heyring. “We are looking forward to supporting Yanmar as it develops and commercializes this exciting technology towards bringing it to the global market.”

Nauti-Craft will explore global market applications supported by the Yanmar group’s worldwide network.

About Yanmar

With beginnings in Osaka, Japan in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. Moving on, with industrial diesel engines as the cornerstone of the enterprise, Yanmar has continued to expand its product range, services, and expertise to deliver total solutions as an industrial equipment manufacturer. As a provider of small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, machine tools, and components — Yanmar’s global business operations span seven domains.
On land, at sea, and in the city, Yanmar’s Mission of “providing sustainable solutions focused on the challenges customers face, in food production and harnessing power, thereby enriching people’s lives for all our tomorrows,” stands testament to Yanmar’s determination to providing us with “A Sustainable Future.”

About Nauti-Craft

Based in Dunsborough, Western Australia, Nauti-Craft is a flexible “skunkworks” style R&D company with a small highly experienced team of engineers, technicians and naval architects who specialise in taking radical new concepts from proof-of-concept stage to commercially viable prototypes. Nauti-Craft has a growing IP portfolio of eleven international patents families dating back to 2002.

Contact:
Yanmar Co., Ltd.
Paul Bartels, Brand Communication Division.
e-mail: paul_bartels@yanmar.com
Tel: +81-6-6376-6212

Nauti-Craft Pty Ltd
Ben Allerton, Nauti-Craft Marketing
e-mail: ben@nauti-craft.com
Tel: +61 (0) 8 9756 7275
Mobile: +61 (0) 408 553 093