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 harbor or as a traveling dealer aboard ships. They procured goods from wholesalers or manufacturers and extended credit to captains. They could serve as agents for insurers, shipyards, or provisioning agents, arranging repairs and supplies as ships called at different ports.

Historically, chandlers organized in guilds or companies within port towns. In the modern era, the term still describes a ship chandler—a supplier who delivers provisions, spare parts, and equipment to ships at anchor or alongside wharves. In common usage, "chandler" may also refer to one who sells candles, a holdover from the original meaning, though maritime usage dominates in shipping contexts.

Today, ship chandlers operate worldwide, often online or through networks that support commercial shipping, fishing fleets, and offshore operations. They are a key link in the supply chain, enabling ships to remain at sea longer between port calls by ensuring timely delivery of essentials.