Case story: full requisition delivered at anchorage in under 6 hours
A container vessel at Douala outer anchorage, a 190-line requisition, and a launch window that was closing. What we did and what it cost.
Every chandler will tell you they deliver on time. Below is a specific delivery — a container vessel at Douala outer anchorage — with the actual timeline, so you can judge for yourself.
The brief
- 190-line requisition: fresh provisions, dry stores, chemicals, spares
- Vessel at outer anchorage, launch transfer required
- Requested delivery window: before 17:00 due to sailing at 20:00
- Requisition landed with us at 10:52
The clock
10:52 — RFQ received. Auto-acknowledgement to agent and Master within one minute.
11:38 — quote returned. 190 lines priced, 6 substitutions flagged with alternatives, one item (a specific brand of coolant) confirmed out of stock — alternative offered.
12:15 — PO received. Substitutions approved, out-of-stock item accepted as alternative.
12:20 — sourcing. Fresh provisions team already at market. Dry stores and chemicals pulled from bond and warehouse. Photos of each pallet as it staged.
14:40 — packed and loaded. Two vans and one launch pre-booked at 13:00. Bonded consignment sealed separately with paperwork clipped to the crate.
15:20 — dock at port. Transferred to the launch. Thermal blanket over the chilled totes.
16:14 — alongside vessel. Handover to Chief Officer. Temperature checked on chilled totes, weigh sheet signed, photos taken.
16:47 — launch back on the pier. Signed delivery note scanned to agent and superintendent.
Elapsed from RFQ to signed handover: 5 hours 55 minutes. Vessel sailed on time.
What it cost the client
Within 3% of the routine alongside price. There is no anchorage surcharge on this kind of coordinated delivery when it is planned inside the same working day.
What made it work
A quote-turn discipline that did not slip while sourcing was happening in parallel. Pre-booked launch slots. Bonded paperwork prepared before the PO landed. All boring, all rehearsed.
Send us the requisition for your next Douala call and we will quote it against the same clock.