Ship chandler

Tools (hatchet, axe, hammer, chisel, planes, lantern, nails, spike, boat hook, caulking iron, hand pump, and marlinspike) and items needed for cleaning such as brooms and mops might be available.

In the Age of Sail, ship chandlers could be found on remote islands, such as St. Helena, who were responsible for delivering water and fresh produce to stave off scurvy.

A distinguishing feature of a ship chandler is the high level of service demanded and the short time required to fill and deliver orders.

Advantages, today and in the past, are that stores in unfamiliar ports do not need to be sought out, and lines of credit make exchanging of currency a non-issue.

The ship chandlery business was central to the existence and the social and political dynamics of ports and their waterfront areas.