Procurement and RFQs
Supplier
A company that provides products, materials, equipment or services required by a buyer. In maritime procurement, the concept helps buyers and providers define, price, compare and authorize operational requirements.
What a supplier does
A supplier delivers goods. That physical delivery is what separates the term from service provider.
The classic maritime supplier is the ship chandler.
Supply is judged on whether the goods reached the vessel, not on whether they left the warehouse.
Supplier is a term used in maritime business and operations.
A company that provides products, materials, equipment or services required by a buyer.
In maritime procurement, the concept helps buyers and providers define, price, compare and authorize operational requirements. The exact meaning may vary with the contract, jurisdiction, port practice or workflow in which it is used.
What maritime suppliers supply
Category
Provisions
Typical items
Fresh, frozen and dry food, and drinking water.
Category
Deck and engine stores
Typical items
Ropes, paint, tools, consumables and cleaning materials.
Category
Spares
Typical items
Replacement parts for machinery, deck equipment and safety systems.
Category
Safety equipment
Typical items
Lifesaving appliances, firefighting gear, and items needed to satisfy inspection.
Category
Bonded stores
Typical items
Duty-free goods such as tobacco and alcohol, held and delivered under customs control.
Category
Lubricants and chemicals
Typical items
Oils, greases and treatment chemicals for machinery and tanks.
Supplying ashore compared with supplying a vessel
Ashore
The delivery address stays where it was when the order was placed.
To a vessel
The delivery point moves. The vessel may shift berth, anchor off, or sail.
Ashore
A missed delivery is usually reattempted the next day.
To a vessel
A missed window means the next port, or nothing.
Ashore
Access is routine.
To a vessel
Port access, gate passes and escorts may be needed to reach the berth.
Ashore
Goods clear customs once, into the country.
To a vessel
Goods may move as ship’s stores or under bond, outside normal import.
Ashore
Receipt is signed by whoever is there.
To a vessel
Receipt is signed on board, usually by the master or a senior officer.
Suppliers in PortzApp
Listed by products and ports served
In PortzApp a supplier’s listing carries the products it sells, the ports it serves and its delivery capability, so a buyer searching a port can see who is actually able to get goods to the vessel there.
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