Srt Marine Systems Share Discussion Threads

[alter ego] 10/11/2021 16:37

Well, I think we are all frustrated but some of us accept the situation as a consequence of selling a highly complex package of hardware and software to governments that have a "relaxed" attitude to signing a deal. It's not as if any competitors are having success either. If it's not to ones liking, then just sell the shares and buy something easier to live with.

Meanwhile, the non systems side is doing rather well, so there's nothing wrong with the products or the management and the future is looking very promising for sales of transceivers and AtoN's.

[philburt] 10/11/2021 16:36

PF2 - not sure I’d pick “The Bleeding Obvious” as my Specialist Subject, but each to his own…

[pinkfoot2] 10/11/2021 15:45

Am I frustrated?Yes I am.

Is 5 years since jam tomorrow acceptable or real world,particularly after all the chat about great riches and dividends?

The company needs a contract and pronto.Credibility on line.

[philburt] 10/11/2021 14:46

AE - good points, well made.

[alter ego] 10/11/2021 14:37

give it a rest pinkfoot2. Your frequent contributions to this board adds nothing to anyone's knowledge about SRT and its market. It just emphasises that you are frustrated, which we all know already. Perhaps you can explain how you believe a change of personnel could influence the speed at which foreign governments sign contracts?

[pinkfoot2] 10/11/2021 14:32

I think marketing is the least of SRTs priorities-how about sales and contracts directors?

[alter ego] 10/11/2021 12:43

I just realised that Louise mentioned MTM (without naming them) when I spoke with her at the AGM. In post no. 11037 following the AGM I wrote

"- New marketing agency appointed in last year. Very pleased with their work."

This is a relationship that has been going on for at least a year so it's not just Nexus or the appointment of new people.

edit
- MTM and em-trak.
- interesting article. discussing trends with Be Ellison.
- remember it's all about connectivity - see what em-trak say.

[alter ego] 10/11/2021 10:48

I overlooked the likelihood that MT have many connections to the maritime world which may be leveraged to SRT's advantage and furthermore, the use of digital marketing tools like video open up other routes to customers and dealers.

Found this which may help explain; see page 16

[alter ego] 10/11/2021 10:29

LaV, trawling back through what I recall from the AGM, the basic rationale for Nexus seemed to be "everyone has/needs VHF radio so combine it with AIS and you have an indispensable mass market product". It was clear that SRT think Nexus is capable of selling in volume.

METS, I concluded, is an opportunity to engage with major OEM's to allow time for those who wish to add a Nexus based product to their range to seek custom features and plan their own sales programme. It will also give SRT the kind of feedback on potential take up and sales as well as allowing time to tailor the product. John Guercio is likely to be heavily involved in discussions at METS and has the background to be taken seriously.

It appeared to me that the main differentiating factors of Nexus are connectivity, interoperability and importantly, the user interface or to put it simply, how easy is it to use. That's why they consulted the maritime expert panel and wrote thousands of "scripts" to describe the functionality and circumstances in which the device would have to be used.

So why are they engaging MTM? Perhaps they see social media as a way of reaching their target market and need some expertise there. I had a brief conversation about this, not specifically about Nexus but Social Media is likely to feature going forward. I suspect they will focus on EmTrak and leave the OEM's to mount their own branding but perhaps you have hit on another aspect i.e. the "Nexus inside" cachet.

Everyone was tight lipped, not wishing to give much away before the controlled soft launch but excitement there was aplenty so you're right to surmise that they think they're on to something. Perhaps the advent of METS will reveal a bit more.

[lavalmy] 10/11/2021 08:35

I see the new man, John Guercio ex Navico whom AE mentioned post the AGM, has joined. Lots of links to Southampton and is the 'OEM & Module Business Development Manager'. Presumably he has had a hand in all this marketing.

[pinkfoot2] 10/11/2021 07:58

All this angst could of course be settled by a few sales-over to ST

[lavalmy] 10/11/2021 07:27

Talking about PR and such, SRT seem to have engaged a marketing outfit called MTM based in Southampton for the new Nexus offering. They too claim maritime sector experise, but given that they have Braemar and the local port as clients I think we might just take them at their word.

What I find slightly odd about this (not including SRT spending cash on this sort of thing) is that they are a year out from actual product launch. The METS thing is strictly B2B anyway and potential customers at that venue all have their own brands by definition. So why the branding and the trailer video with zero content and exciting music?

I can only think of some sort of 'Intel Inside' campaign, differentiating the NEXUS (including in future Emtrak products) from anything else out there. Another thing SRT's OEM customers are expert in by definition is marine electronics. If they are signing up as expected in the next few weeks, then it would suggest that SRT really are onto something.

[alter ego] 09/11/2021 23:15

I’m afraid MonkeyIsland lost any credibility by equating what SRT sell with what you get free with Marinetraffic.com. Give enough rope and they hang themselves.

[philburt] 09/11/2021 22:26

I’m already starting to wonder what my quickest time is for Filtering a poster. I smell a new record…

[pldazzle] 09/11/2021 19:46

MI - and you're not trying to sell a narrative?

[monkeyisland] 09/11/2021 19:27

Lav In respects of your coast station I would point them in the direction of marine traffic who give away the same 1990s technology for free and with a plug attached! I did highlight that I thought this forum had certain individuals who were trying to sell a narrative and that it had the DNA of a PR machine. I wonder why that would be (inflate share price?), But hey ho let's see what's under the Christmas tree this year. I fear it may be another empty card with promises for the new year!!

[yump] 09/11/2021 16:40

Isn't it great to have well-known and respected financial wizards contributing.

My friends Uncle was a very senior executive in a major company - met him once - should have asked for advice - he was at Enron I think.

[goodapple7] 09/11/2021 16:09

Are they all like you on your island?

[lavalmy] 09/11/2021 15:37

Well at least you could tell them which end of the coast station the plug goes in. No wonder your advice is sought after.

No fees charged by this board.

[monkeyisland] 09/11/2021 14:59

I have declare my interest here. I was approached a while back by a well known investment company interested in SRT. Due to my knowledge in the sector they wanted to know about potential ROIs. I looked in to it and it for them and the numbers and offerings don't stack. The world has opened back up and contracts are being signed. So either the USP or offering is not attractive if C19 is the excuse for contracts not being signed. I wish I could say otherwise as being a UK company they are an employer and contribute to the economy. However as time goes by ST appears to come across as the boy that cried wolf. At some point credibility may necessitate new leadership.

[homeboy] 09/11/2021 08:45

must be running low on funds by now and their so called fixed base business model isn't exactly fixed is it, must be running at over 8 mill costs by now and still waiting for the conveyor belt to plop a contract

they'll need money before you lot hear news i'll wager, and this nexus, that's a year away from production isn't it but vesper already look like they have similar out there now, srt a bit late to the party and playing catch up, not a good place to be, meanwhile they still don't sell enough to cover op-ex and it's still 4 or 5 years on and ya'll still waiting for these so called signings
bad business model

[lavalmy] 08/11/2021 12:40

fft

I think someone else is trying to do RADAR.

WRT to ships going dark, we have seen many times boats being tracked by their AIS up to e.g. an exclusion zone then turning the AIS off and popping back a week later on the outskirts of the zone. Not all that sophisticated really and all the authorities have to do is ask them where they were.

For the more sinister operators, those going dark or swapping MMSI numbers or whatever, firstly they seem few in number and secondly seem more pertinent to international surveillance than domestic - sanctions-busters or these dark factory fishing vessels out on the high seas. But still a small market.

FWIW, the idea of looking for wakes where none should be is promising (and independent of electronic emissions). Most days we see the ferry from Malta passing by the headland of the beach where we walk the dogs. 25 minutes later there is an almighty sequence of waves hitting the beach. We can see even the remnants of tracks of small fishing dinghies which have disappeared an hour or so previously, though I doubt if that disturbance could be picked up via satellite. Four metres, if memory serves, was the minimum length for what SRT were playing with.

[lavalmy] 08/11/2021 11:50

sf5

Maybe a useful supplier if they are able to do what they say. If other companies' plans for the internet of things come off, there will be heaps of stuff broadcasting signals all over the place - so it could become very needle in haystack stuff.

I can't see a large market for knowing globally who is broadcasting on radio. SRT's clients will only be interested in their own EEZ's. I can't see non-government actors being interested and the largest governments (US, China, Russia ...) probably already can.

[yump] 08/11/2021 11:49

SRT's system allows countries to manage maritime movements in detail, Hawkeye looks like an alert system. Different markets by the look of it.