Page 16 - SMI Issue 62

Regional FocusIndia‘Give to them, what we eat’ISSA members in India are, likemany other areas of the globe, suffering increased competition fromunscrupulous companies. That’s according to AndrewFernandez, of M Joseph Fernandez Son, based in Tuticorin, which is a historic sixth generation family business and started off supplying fresh water which was scarce in Tuticorin during the 18th and 19th centuries.“In the old days the steamer agents, while having a regular ship chandler, would never ask for a quotation from another ship chandler and changes in any rates would be mutually settled there and then,” he said.“But nowadays, in some cases when there is an approved ship chandler and the approved rates, the Master of the vessel will ask for other quotations, which can lead to dirty competition and unhealthy practices.”He added: “In the old days, they were in the practice of giving a correct idea of what kind of quality items they needed and even if there were some mistakes in the supply they would excuse us and guide us for future supplies. Nowadays on some vessels, the order is not placed until they arrive and the stay is very short.“However, we still do shipchandling/ dubash works for some lines, as westrictly follow or fore fathers’ adviceof ‘give to them what we eat’ – that means to give them standard quality items only and our service is very much appreciated.”Other issues faced by Indian ship suppliers were the ever increasing limit in the ports of calls and shorter stays in ports, he said.“Not many, apart from bulk vessels, stay longer than three or four days now,” explained Mr Fernandez.Because of the downturn in business, he said his father Peter Fernandez had opened a ship agency and transport and mobile crane business too. u14 | The Ship Supplier | Issue 70 2016