Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Putting Mr Poots notions to one side, the only thing that has not changed in countless millenia is the geology. That's been a given since the inception of the project. Hope it's not as long to ge it to a conclusion.
If you have a look on the Isles of Scilly Scrutiny Committee video @ 1:49:00 there is a picture of what they are calling the Samson. You can then compare it to the images of the landing craft on Marine Traffic. I think that even allowing for the paint job, which could be easily done on Photoshop if it hasn't been already, there are definite differences. They have had these landing craft in to Appledore for maintenance before so nothing new there. What I couldn't determine is any of background details in the video to say if that shot was taken near Appledore recently.
If I was home i could have nipped down and have a little nosey. :)
Pick any one of the many multiple inks covering the same message for the past 10 years. And nothing changes, just more talk on how much more vital it is now than the last time it was ever so vital. Add in the latest risk that may have become flavour of the month. Including but not limited too.... climate change, net zero by 20**, security of supply (wars), beast for the east, wally from the weat (Trump), pesky Mongolians.....
Same crew as last time.
1. Long thread titles.
2. Little to no engagement.
3. OTT ramps based on very little fact.
4. Tick each other up.
5. Keep adding posts to bump it to the top.
6. Get actual Investors to challenge facts or encourage. (See last point)
7. One of the other menbers of the crews starts another trhread.
8. Make required trade and f. off.
Same one that Broomtree noticed the other week. It belongs to the Royal Marines Base at Chivenor and is usually moored up on the other side of the river with the other one. Would say no and is on the patent slip for work.
Yeah, thought the yellow was a good match. I was looking for something in dark blue that usually denotes passenger vessles. Think they would let us keep the dolphin? :)
https://images.marinetraffic.com/collection/4733879.webp?size=800
Scoured the port of Barcelona during the video last night fro something that matched the pictures shown of the new vessel.
Found it now though, cheers LSE. :)
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:1.729/centery:41.212/zoom:18
True, but in the case of the SSC it's also a matter of their survival and their staff's future employment. It appears that some are quite comfortable with that scenario not working out for them. Not sure I am as it could end up being just the latest venture for JW, who seems to have very little in the way any noticable restraint being placed upon him from those around him and his scattergun approach to business. I hope it isn't just panderding to pride or ego. And with a growing list vessel procurements, some sort of sunk cost fallacy. Competition may be good for the customers, and islanders, but daytrippers don't tend give out large mutli-million pound contracts that satisfy the growing needs of the company. Little bit of fixing-up work for some of the yards to keep them busy, I guess.
Onwards... and sideways. :)
In their efforts to out do the other it seems that Scilly Isles are about to have quite few newish vessels to serve their needs. What with the SSC hinting at another imminent freight vessel and also the Samson about to join H&W's fleet. Not sure if it is going to be more about out doing each other and less about doing so in a profitable and sustainable way. Yes, there is a slight concern that us as shareholders just get dragged along on this cause JW has taken upon himself. Next time he's got the red boilersuit on I'll be checking for the addition of a cape. :)
So many questions but the overiding one is still the one that came up most. Why? The way he explained it made it sound like a ferry company was his master plan all along. Before Infrastrata, before H&W... really? I recall him saying something similar when we moved away from just the gas storage project and into shipyards. First it was a capex saving exercise which then changed into being the plan all along. A five year plan. Announced about two years in. :)
Anyway, moving on, we seem to have a couple of new vessels. Have outright bought a Fast Cat and it'll be on it's way from Barcelona soon. Another one in the summer, almost a tug and apparently some barges. Could upping the Riverstone loan be something to do with some of those purchases? IDK, it all just seems like an absolute huge waste of time and resources.
No wonder the finance deal has taken so long if his foucus has been building the next P&O.
Name check aside, Appledore is within his constsituency afterall. But very glad to hear the encouragement and support he would get should he actually wish to propose having a debate about shipbuilding. Don't see the point in what seem like loaded questions to affect what seem like pre-planned responses. I'm aware that in the past he other local MP's did try to get contracts for the failing yard and "significant and substantial offers" were offered, in vain, to try and get Babçock to keep the yard open. He was certainly instrumental in negotiations with Infrastrata and the then owners of Appledore. So I'm sure he will continue to support the company both locally and nationaly. Don't just talk about having a debate, get on have it and tell what you have decided to do.
" Seeing the good work first hand" Firsthand? Does that mean, like you suggested LSE from the radio broadcast, that he is over there at the moment?
Yes, of course it is nice to see them busy but he makes it sound like the progress and the charter are new and down to H&W when it's been ongoing for at least six months. Quite a while before the takeover of KMS. But then, he does seem to have a tendancy of adopting others history as his own.
It will last as long as the ramping crew can keep it going, had their fill and moved on to their next target. Meanwhile all those that beleived the hype, bought in late, over leveraged etc. etc... are left wondering why, nursing a high average and eating regretti spaghetti. If you sell to early, but in profit, all you can lose it less profit. Hang on too long and you just end up underwater. So, no, not a tough decision at all. Wasn't last time and it won't be when the next pivital moment arrives.
But that's just my strategy, having seen how it plays out here time after time after.... But each to their own. :)
Unless they are the ones looking for The Merchant Royal that sank off Scilly 400 years ago carrying £4 billion worth of gold.
Might be a better venture that a ferry service and could even pay off Riverstone. ;)