The Malta Desk · Operational Agency
Provisioning, Galley Supply & Logistics
The daily supply chain that keeps a yacht running — fresh produce, dietary, ship’s stores, bonded stores, technical spares, customs, cold-chain. Operational delivery, not goods curation.
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Galley & Fresh
Fresh produce, meats, seafood, dietary requirements — gluten-free, kosher, halal, vegan, allergen-managed.
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Ship’s Stores
Bonded stores, dry goods, frozen, chilled, ambient, crew galley basics, cleaning supplies.
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Technical Spares
Engine room parts, deck hardware, electrical, navigation electronics, emergency-import spares.
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Logistics & Customs
Freight, cold chain, customs clearance, quayside delivery, multi-supplier consolidation.
Typical Timeline
Standard provisions: 24–48 hours; specialist items or imported parts: 3–7 business days
What We Need From You
- Provision lists or preference sheets
- Technical part numbers and specifications
- Delivery timeline and vessel location
- Any dietary or brand preferences
What You Get
- Sourced and quality-checked provisions
- Customs-cleared imported goods
- Quayside or on-board delivery
- Itemised invoicing with receipts
Scenarios
When You Need This
- Preparing for a charter and need full provisioning
- Awaiting a critical engine spare that needs importing
- Restocking between Mediterranean legs with local produce
- Sourcing specialist dietary items for guests
- Needing safety equipment delivered before a survey
- Coordinating bonded stores for international departure
- Managing multiple deliveries from different suppliers to the vessel
- Requiring cold-chain logistics for fresh or frozen goods
Hover to play — Galley & Fresh
Daily fresh provisioning — produce, meats, seafood, dietary
The galley side of the operation — everything the chef needs to deliver three services a day to charter guests, six days a week, twelve weeks a season. Sourced locally where Malta produces it well (fresh fish from Marsaxlokk, vegetables from Pwales valley, dairy from Ta’ Pinu) and via the EU supply chain for everything else.
- Fresh produce — daily-sourced vegetables, fruit, herbs, salads
- Meats — beef, lamb, poultry, dry-aged on request; halal + kosher channels available
- Seafood — daily Marsaxlokk lampuki, swordfish, tuna, octopus, prawns; lobster + oysters on order
- Dietary management — gluten-free, vegan, allergen-controlled, sugar-free, low-FODMAP, paleo
- Bakery, dairy, charcuterie, deli — local + imported EU specialty
- Chef-preference sheets honoured — specific brands, vintage cheeses, particular cuts
- Daily-or-twice-daily delivery to swim platform or marina passerelle
Hover to play — Ship’s Stores
Bonded stores, dry goods, frozen, crew galley
The mid-tier supply chain — the dry goods, frozen, chilled and ambient stock that keeps a yacht through a 2-week passage or a long charter rotation. Plus bonded-stores management for international departures: the duty-suspended inventory that ships out under customs seal.
- Bonded stores — tobacco, spirits, alcohol, duty-suspended for international departure
- Dry goods — pasta, rice, oils, vinegars, canned, dried, ambient long-shelf
- Frozen + chilled — meats, fish, vegetables, prepared, dairy, ice
- Crew galley basics — pantry restock, condiments, household-grade
- Cleaning supplies + galley consumables — detergents, sanitisers, gloves, towels, paper
- Bonded-stores customs documentation — sealing, manifest preparation, departure compliance
- Inventory tracking + reorder scheduling for charter-rotation operations
Hover to play — Technical Spares
Engine room, deck hardware, navigation electronics
The engine-room side of provisioning — the spare parts that keep a yacht moving when a critical component fails in the middle of a charter. Sourced from OEM and approved-aftermarket EU channels, customs-cleared on import, delivered to the marina with technical documentation intact.
- Engine room — impellers, filters, belts, gaskets, seals, lubricants, coolants
- Deck hardware — cleats, fairleads, winch parts, anchor windlass spares, mooring lines
- Electrical — alternators, batteries, breakers, converters, cabling, switchgear
- Navigation electronics — chartplotter screens, autopilot heads, AIS transponders, sensors
- HVAC, refrigeration, watermaker, sewage-treatment plant spares
- Emergency-import expedited delivery — charter-critical parts via air freight + customs broker
- OEM part-number cross-reference against approved aftermarket alternatives
Hover to play — Logistics & Customs
Freight, cold chain, customs, quayside consolidation
The infrastructure under everything else — the freight coordination, the cold-chain integrity, the customs clearance, and the single-point-of-delivery consolidation that turns a dozen supplier invoices into one quayside drop. The unglamorous bit that determines whether the rest works.
- Cold-chain integrity — refrigerated transport, temperature loggers, chain-of-custody documentation
- Customs clearance — Malta Customs Form C46/C47, EUR.1 + ATR certificates, TARIC classification
- Multi-supplier consolidation — single quayside drop instead of a dozen delivery trucks
- Air-freight expediting for charter-critical parts — emergency import within 48–72 hours
- Sea-freight coordination for bulk consumables — consolidated containers from EU origin ports
- Yacht-in-transit / Temporary Admission documentation for non-EU yachts in Maltese waters
- Supplier negotiation + cost management — transparent invoicing, no hidden mark-up
Process
How It Works
Submit Your Requirements
Send us your provision lists, part numbers, or general requirements. We accept lists via email, WhatsApp, or our quote form.
Sourcing & Quotation
We source items from our network of trusted local and international suppliers, then provide a detailed quotation with availability and lead times.
Procurement & Import
Once approved, we procure the goods, manage customs clearance for imported items, and arrange appropriate storage while awaiting delivery.
Quality Check & Delivery
All goods are quality-checked before delivery. We coordinate quayside or on-board delivery at a time that suits your schedule.
Documentation
Documents & Inputs
- Provision preference sheets or order lists
- Technical specifications or part numbers for spares
- Delivery address and vessel berth location
- Any import permits required for restricted items
- Preferred payment terms
Moments
A Glance at the Supply Chain
Six moments from the operational supply chain Mercer’s team runs — Marsaxlokk fish market dawn, crew loading provisions via passerelle, yacht-galley chef preparing service, engineer with a critical spare, pallet on the quayside, signed manifest paperwork.
For a 14-day Med charter rotation we send Mercer one consolidated brief on Monday morning — produce, frozen, dietary, three engine-room spares, two electrical — and everything lands on the quay by Friday in a single delivery. The chef gets what the chef needs. The chief eng gets what the chief eng needs. Nobody chases.
Chief Officer · 72m motor yacht, Mediterranean charter
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you source specialist dietary provisions in Malta?
Yes. We source organic, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher, and other specialist dietary items through our network of local and EU suppliers. For highly specific requirements, we can import directly.
How do you handle importing spare parts to Malta?
We manage the full import process: freight coordination, customs brokerage, duty assessment (or temporary importation relief for yacht-in-transit parts), and delivery to the vessel.
What is the typical turnaround for provisioning?
Standard local provisions can be sourced and delivered within 24–48 hours. Imported items, specialist parts, or large orders typically take 3–7 business days depending on origin.
Do you provide bonded stores for international departures?
Yes. We manage bonded stores documentation, coordinate with customs for sealing, and ensure compliance with departure requirements for duty-free stores.
Can you deliver directly to the yacht at berth?
Absolutely. All deliveries are coordinated directly to the vessel's berth, with porters available for on-board loading if required.
Do you handle cold-chain logistics for fresh provisions?
Yes. We have refrigerated transport and cold-storage facilities to maintain the chain from supplier to yacht, ensuring produce arrives in perfect condition.