chandlers
Chandlers are merchants who supply ships and crews with provisions, equipment, and consumables while vessels are in port. The term originated in medieval Europe, originally denoting a seller of candles; over time the role broadened to include a wide range of ship's stores, from rope and canvas to tar, pitch, paints, and nails, as well as food and drink.
A typical chandler maintained an inventory tailored to nautical needs, often operating from a shop near a
Historically, chandlers organized in guilds or companies within port towns. In the modern era, the term still
Today, ship chandlers operate worldwide, often online or through networks that support commercial shipping, fishing fleets,