Definition
A ship chandler is a dealer in the supplies and equipment a ship needs — historically a retail shop on the quay, today usually a warehouse-backed supplier that delivers to the berth or out to the anchorage. The trade calls itself shipsupply; ISSA, the international association, counts about 2,000 member suppliers.[1,2]
A full-line chandler covers provisions (fresh, frozen, dry), bonded stores, cabin and galley stores, deck and engine stores, safety equipment, paints, ropes and chemicals, and often arranges delivery of spares or owners' goods sent in from abroad. Smaller specialists cover a single line — provisions only, or safety service. Many quote under the ISSA General Conditions of Sale, which, for example, set delivery at the nearest point a vehicle can reach and charge overtime and transport beyond that point extra.[3]
For a buyer the useful questions are: which lines does this chandler stock rather than buy in, can they deliver at the anchorage and at what cut-off, and will they quote per line by IMPA code so the offer can be compared? On GeoMarineHub a requisition reaches every verified chandler activated at the port, who bid sealed — no supplier sees another's price.
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Sources
- [1] Wikipedia — Ship chandler — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_chandler
- [2] ISSA — International Shipsuppliers & Services Association — https://www.shipsupply.org/
- [3] ISSA — General Conditions of Sale — https://www.shipsupply.org/conditions-of-sale/
A working definition for buyers, not legal advice — the contract, the convention text and your club or class have the last word.