In the old days, the chandler used to bring salted meat, livestock (chickens, pigs, etc.), manila ropes, cargo blocks, sail and twine and related stuff, mainly for sailing vessels. Nowadays a ship chandler has a much wider scope of supply. Today, a Shipsupplier (= shipchandler) is a specialised trader or economic operator, who will deliver all goods to a vessel everything that the ship, its crew and passengers may require during time spend at sea or in port [1]. The importance of cooperation and flexibility in Shipstoring “Storing the ship is teamwork” – This well-known slogan means that ship supplying can only be carried out by smooth co-operation between Ship Suppliers, Ship Owners, Freight Forwarders, Port Authorities, Customs and Taxation Authorities and others. This is essential, as in many cases the time available for supplying a vessel is limited to a few hours. Furthermore, the documentation and administration of the ship supply business is very complicated, even if it is online or electronic. It is therefore necessary to have flexibility in application of the regulations to suit the circumstances under which the ship is being supplied, also in an electronic customs and administration environment.
Requirements and skills needed for ship supplying “Just-in-time” business and multiple consignments of small items Shipsupply is global business – competition with third countries European Ship Suppliers are facing strong competition at international level and have to compete with Ship Suppliers all over the world. The pressure to supply highest quality products at globally competitive prices has been increasing further over the last years. Moreover, the nature of the European Union means that trade barriers exist in the EU, outside customs procedures, which do not exist elsewhere. As a consequence, fierce global competition and a unique European business environment require all EU Member States to focus efforts on more trade facilitation, for European business and industry. A further increase in bureaucracy, administrative burden and other complications need to be avoided at all costs! Otherwise, a vessel might divert to non-EU ports and the ship supplying business will be done somewhere else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] (Source: www.m-w.com) Etymology: Middle English chandeler, from Middle French chandelier, from Old French, from chandelle candle, from Latin candela , Date: 14th century |
