About Us
Qualified Drivers
We Look After People, So Vessels Sail Smoothly.
Accessibility, availability and reliability is everything.
As the largest ship supplier in South African waters, with branches across all four major ports including on demand ports, let us greet you when you arrive.
We consistently meet our customers’ requirements from technical, deck, engine, cabin to bonded and provision stores!
Buying power, infrastructure and expertise – our turnaround is unmatched, prices are accurate with no hidden fees and our deliveries are always made with time to spare. Our clients have peace of mind knowing that we take care of the rest, so that they can do what they do best.
Our Vision
The pride, attitude and commitment of our team has made us the best employer in the South African Ship Supply industry. Never complacent, we continually strive to raise the bar of standards - with training, monitoring and controls in place that develop our staff and ensure sustainable growth. As a result of the systems, procedures and long-term relationships we have developed in over 80 years, we can successfully meet 100% of the needs of all vessels calling our ports. Fusing a strategic business mind-set with our passionate approach, we have built a reputation for dedicated, reliable and cost effective service delivery.
Our Mission
- To make a measurable contribution to the shipping industry, evaluated against established benchmarks
- To learn and empower ourselves and strive for excellence, and efficiency in quality and service
- To provide clear and efficient communication
- To consistently satisfy 100% of our customers’ needs
- To remain accountable for and sustain mutually, beneficial relationships with all our customers, suppliers, staff, and government bodies; being always conscience of any social and environmental impacts
Should you wish to see our IMS Policy manual please click on the following link : Download IMS Policy manual
Our Organizational Culture
This is our ethos, the how we do what we do!
Accuracy
Consistent and precise deliverance of our duties, ensures that we have completed the relevant and thorough quality checks throughout the process.
Efficiency
We conduct our duties with speed and organization, using effective communication to ensure success in achieving our goals.
Customer Satisfaction
We take the necessary steps and measures to ensure we fully understand our customers’ needs, to ultimately guarantee their complete satisfaction.
Commitment
We are loyal and dedicated to our colleagues and customers. We are committed to having a good attitude and working hard to achieve the company’s vision until we succeed.
Professionalism
We effectively use the knowledge and resources available to us, to conduct ourselves in a competent and courteous manner. We perform all our daily tasks and duties with a high level of excellence, going above and beyond basic requirements, to uphold the company’s vision.
Team Work
We are team players and we do whatever it takes to achieve team goals. We focus on solutions, not problems. We are fully cooperative in our work and able to change, if what we are doing is not working. We ask for help when we need it and we are considerate to others.
Trustworthy
We value our credibility and what we promise is what we deliver. We are always reliable and only make agreements that we are willing and intend to keep.
Respect
We treat others the same way we expect to be treated, with respect and integrity, and we are considerate to our colleagues’ differences.
Responsibility
We take full accountability for all our actions, conscious of the outcomes, and take full ownership of everything that takes place in our work.
Punctuality
We are always timeous with our duties and tasks.
"Experience, strong leadership, personal customer relations, knowledge of each customer’s needs and expectations, established infrastructure, branch locations across South Africa, ability to source any product at competitive prices and specialized value added services… is what sets National Ship Chandlers apart."
John M Joannou
C.E.O
Our Executive Team
Savvas Stylianou
Director
Andro Stylianou
Managing Director
Michael Joannou
Managing Director
Benny Mungray
Financial Director
Our Timeline
Over 80 Years of Ship Chandlery Excellence.
1941
Hans Sorvaag, a Norwegian immigrant, established National Ship Chandlers; a company dedicated to supplying ships with general wholesale merchandise.
1976
After 35 years supplying superlative service and products within the industry, and as a result of the amalgamation of two Scandinavian ship chandlers, the Durban branch was opened to cater for what was now a rapidly expanding business.
1980
National Ship Chandlers’ 3rd branch in Richards Bay was opened, creating the opportunity and ability to supply ships in neighbouring ports, such as Sodwana Bay.
1989
Head office was relocated to Durban, where new owners raised the bar of standards and goals in the hope of becoming one of South Africa’s largest ship supply companies, with the capacity to compete internationally.
2004
The Port Elizabeth Branch was opened – A true testament to the fact that the company continues to grow from strength to strength. National Ship Chandlers officially covers the entire South-Eastern coast of South Africa.
2014
We obtained our ISO certification in September 2014. We remain the only Supplier in South Africa certified across the three standard: 9001 (Quality); 14001 (Environmental) & 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety.
2016
This year we acquired a larger facility in Durban, which meant larger stores greater capacity.
2017
Our PE branch moved from a 960 square meter premises to an impressive 3,500 square meter facility. In this year we also launched our bespoke ERP software in our PE branch.
2020
We acquired PPECB approval for our Cape Town branch.
2021
After great success at the PE branch, all our branches started using the ERP software. Streamlining and revolutionizing the way that we do our business.
2023
National Ship Chandlers is the largest ship supplier in South Africa. It is also the only ship chandler with resident branches in the four strategically situated South Africa ports of call: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban (Head office), and Richards Bay.
Our Branches
Durban (HO)
438 Sydney Rd, Congella,
Durban, 4001
Tel: +27 31 205 4221
Email: natship@natship.net
Cape Town
16 Auckland Street, Paarden Eiland,
Cape Town, 7045
Tel:+27 21 511 8922/3/4
Email: natshipcape@natship.net
Port Elizabeth
29 Kiel Street, Coega IDZ,
Port Elizabeth, 6100
Tel: +27 41 484 7633/4
Email: natshippe@natship.net
Richards Bay
17 Alumina Alee, Alton,
Richards Bay, 3900
Tel: +27 35 797 3511/2
Email: natshiprb@natship.net