National Ship Chandlers

N AT I O N A L S H I P CHANDLERS

NATIONAL SHIP CHANDLERS SA

Your Maritime Link

In Africa

PRODUCTION: Manelesi Dumasi

For more than seven decades, National Ship Chandlers has been supplying the seafaring vessels that dock at African ports with quality goods and services, ensuring that trade keeps flowing across the entire African continent.

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INDUSTRY FOCUS: LOGISTICS

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Thanks to its strategic location at the southern tip of the African continent, touching both the Atlantic and Indian oceans, South Africa has long been a hub for the globe’s shipping activity. The maritime industry is behind some of the development of the country, bringing European sailors welcome respite during their journeys to the Far East and back again. With a coastline stretching more than 1600 miles, the opportunities for maritime activity are enormous and, as technology has advanced and the economy has developed, boats, ships and cruise liners have all become regular guests around the country’s coastline.

Today, South Africa’s ports are world renowned as some of the best there is. Welcoming major vessels

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from all over the planet, the likes of Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha, Ngqura, East London, and Mossel Bay are a home-away-from-home for international maritime personnel.

But as well as being a welcome rest break for those sailing the seas, the country’s ports are also busy refuelling, repairing and restocking destinations. Ships small and large can dock in South Africa safe in the knowledge that they will be able to quickly and effectively refill empty tanks and stores.

One of the key players in this regard is National Ship Chandlers South Africa. Based at the Port of Durban, this business is widely respected and boasts a 76-year history at the forefront of a vitally important industry. It supplies ships of all type

and size with provisions and bonded goods, technical supplies, engine and cabin supplies, clearing and forwarding services, and more.

Starting life in 1941, National Ship Chandlers supplied passing ships with general wholesale merchandise. The company was founded by Norwegian immigrant, Hans Sorvaag. Business continued very successfully over the next 35 years and in 1976 the business merged with another Scandinavian chandler before opening up in Durban. Then, in 1980, the business expanded to Richards Bay, a key strategic move which allowed National Ship Chandlers to provide for ships in neighbouring ports. Nine years later, head office was moved to Durban and new owner, current CEO John Joannou,

NATIONAL SHIP CHANDLERS SA

made his intentions clear: attack international markets. In 2004, a fourth branch was opened in Port Elizabeth, meaning National Ship Chandlers now covered the entire south-eastern coast of South Africa.

2011 saw the company officially recognised as the largest ship supplier in South Africa, with four strategically located branches at the key port destinations in the country.

“As the ship supplier with the greatest infrastructure in South Africa; National Ship Chandlers can ensure successful supply to each vessel, time and time again,” the company states. “Operating from SA’s four famous, and strategically positioned, ports of call – Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban (Head office) and Richards Bay - our comprehensive infrastructure helps us to retain our position as the most trusted and time-honoured supplier in the country.”

90% of imports and exports in Africa are conducted by sea.

The most active general cargo port is Durban, servicing around 4,500 vessels per year and about 8,3000 containers per month.

Estimates suggest that the port conducts trade worth more than $45 billion, demonstrating the value and importance of on-site local suppliers who can assist in the effective operation of such a significant industry sector.

“Our primary goal is to first provide our clients with the highest standards in quality and service, and then maintain these standards throughout the relationship in order to provide them the consistency they require, and deserve,” says John Joannou.

He has indicated his keen interest in expanding internationally and perhaps the first port of call for growth would be on the continent where the business already has a sound understanding of the industry. Africa is home

to some major ports including Mombasa, Djibouti, Lagos, Abidjan, Tangier and Suez, and all of these locations turn around cruise liner traffic and container vessels – key markets for National Ship Chandlers.

The company is home to four specific divisions that cater to differing needs in the industry namely the logistical supply division, in-house clearing and forwarding division, import and export division, and the cruise liner division.

The logistical supply division is made up of a vast fleet of delivery vehicles that can move supplies to any region on the continent to meet vessels. The company has experience moving goods to places like Port Louis, Port Victoria and Maputo, utilising an effective air and sea freight transport network.

Clearing and forwarding

facilitates the swift and efficient clearing of all shipments, deliveries to ships, imports, exports and the logistical freighting of ship’s spares around the world.

The import and export division handles the movement of goods and containers containing perishable products to countries all over the world and around Africa.

The cruise liner division, which has been an active part of National Ship Chandlers for more than 20 years, ensures that the unique and individual needs of luxury passenger liners are meet quickly.

“As the largest Ship Supplier in South Africa, National Ship Chandlers’ experience has led to the understanding that every client, and every kind of vessel, has their own specific needs. That is why we have developed specialised

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INDUSTRY FOCUS: LOGISTICS

NATIONAL SHIP CHANDLERS SA

divisions that are designed to cater for these individual requirements under one holistic and cohesive offering. Essentially, we continue to supply ships in all of South Africa’s ports of call with everything from provisions to technical, deck and engine to cabin, and bonded stores.

We tailor solutions to provide you with the best quality and service available within your niche,” the company says.

Efficiency is at the heart of National Ship Chandlers. The four key ports through which the company has a presence are vital cogs in the trade of the continent and, as such, any slowdown or delay at any port would be felt across the entire region. This is why National Ship Chandlers comes with a vast range of products and services, all the relevant paperwork, and vast experience that helps customers pass through SA’s ports, restocking with ease.

“As the Largest Ship Chandler in South Africa, we have the greatest buying power. This means that you can get the best quality products at the most competitive prices. All our provisions, bonded, cabin, deck and engine stores – imported and local – are listed in accordance with ISSA and IMPA codes,” the company states.

An ISO 9001 quality accredited company, National Ship Chandlers boasts a number of the world’s preeminent marine names as its clients – Garrets Marine Catering Management, Lagaay International and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement to name just a few.

“At National Ship Chandlers, we consider the hands-on approach that we take to be responsible for the reputable name we have built over the years as the number one ship supplier in South Africa. And through our reputation we have had the great pleasure of providing our service and provisions, bonded, cabin, deck, and engine stores to many of the

maritime industry’s most revered names,” the company says.

As the South African government looks to the ‘ocean economy’ as an avenue of future economic development through its Operation Phakisa programme, the country’s ports will grow in importance and will be part of a major drive for revenue making trade. Early projections for Operation Phakisa have suggested that South Africa’s oceans have the potential to create up to R177 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) and create over one million new jobs by 2033.

If activity is to increase through South Africa’s ports, one thing is certain – National Ship Chandlers will be there to assist its clients every step of the way. The company is always looking to grow and sates

that its future will be exciting: “Over 70 years of experience and superlative service is just a drop in the ocean of National Ship Chandlers’ Future.”

NATIONAL SHIP CHANDLERS SA +27 31 2054221 webgeneral@natship.net www.natship.net

TABAK DISTRIBUTION, a proud partner and supplier nationally, of bonded premium liquor, malt, wine and tobacco to National Ship Chandlers.

TABAK DISTRIBUTION

3454 Tabak Logo NEW.indd 1

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We congratulate

National Ship Chandlers on achieving this great milestone. www.tabak.co.za

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Issue No.64

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ENTERPRISE AFRICA

OCTOBER 2017