ISSA Catalogue – Ship Stores Catalogue for Merchant Shipping Professionals

Introduction

The ISSA Catalogue, or ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue, is a professional reference for the procurement of supplies required onboard ships and for identifying the equipment, spare parts, consumables and materials necessary for vessel operation, maintenance and safety. Published by the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association, it is primarily intended for merchant shipping professionals, shipowners, ship managers, masters, officers, chief engineers, purchasing departments, technical departments, ship chandlers and specialist marine suppliers.

The ISSA Catalogue addresses a fundamental requirement of international shipping: accurately identifying the products required onboard and enabling buyers and suppliers to communicate using a common nomenclature. Its seven-digit numbering system provides a structured way of identifying items and facilitates the preparation of procurement requests.

The catalogue covers a particularly broad range of marine supplies. It includes deck stores and nautical equipment as well as tools, technical components, maintenance products, safety equipment, cabin stores, cleaning products, electrical equipment and components used in vessel machinery and technical systems.

What is the ISSA Catalogue?

The ISSA Catalogue is a professional catalogue of marine supplies intended for international ship supply operations. It provides a nomenclature that helps buyers and suppliers identify the items required onboard.

Its seven-digit numbering system is one of its main characteristics. An ISSA reference can be included in a procurement request to reduce the risk of errors caused by differences in terminology between countries, suppliers or crews.

The catalogue can be used to:

• identify marine supplies;

• prepare ship supply requisitions;

• prepare a supply list before a port call;

• search for an item by category;

• communicate a precise reference to a ship chandler;

• organise vessel or fleet procurement;

• manage onboard stocks;

• support maintenance operations;

• standardise requirements across several vessels;

• improve communication between ship and shore.

The ISSA Catalogue is therefore primarily a professional reference and procurement tool.

A catalogue for merchant shipping

The ISSA Catalogue is particularly suited to commercial vessels and the international shipping environment.

It can be used by crews and shore-based departments of container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, chemical tankers, LNG carriers, ro-ro vessels, service vessels and other professional ships.

Its main users include:

• shipowners;

• ship managers;

• masters;

• officers;

• chief engineers;

• technical departments;

• purchasing managers;

• procurement departments;

• ship suppliers;

• ship chandlers;

• maintenance departments;

• ship repair companies.

The catalogue is especially useful when an order has to be prepared before a vessel arrives in port. A supply list can be sent to the supplier with references that make the requested items easier to identify.

The seven-digit ISSA numbering system

The ISSA numbering system provides a common reference between buyers and suppliers.

A description such as “work gloves”, “gasket”, “fitting”, “wrench” or “lamp” may refer to many different products. The reference system helps define the required item more precisely.

However, an ISSA code should not always be considered sufficient technical information. For a mechanical component or equipment intended for a specific installation, it may be necessary to provide:

• dimensions;

• material;

• diameter;

• working pressure;

• capacity;

• model;

• manufacturer's part number;

• electrical characteristics;

• connection type;

• operating conditions.

The ISSA nomenclature therefore supports identification, while the complete technical specification remains essential for critical equipment.

Main supply categories

The ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue covers a wide range of ship supply categories.

These include, among others:

• general supplies;

• cabin stores;

• clothing and linen;

• deck stores;

• rigging;

• ropes;

• marine paints;

• painting equipment;

• lubrication tools and accessories;

• canvas and tarpaulins;

• safety equipment;

• hoses and couplings;

• nautical equipment;

• medical supplies;

• electrical and pneumatic tools;

• safety non-spark tools;

• petroleum products;

• stationery;

• hardware;

• brushes;

• lavatory equipment;

• cleaning products and chemicals;

• ventilation equipment;

• hand tools;

• cutting tools;

• measuring tools;

• materials;

• screws and nuts;

• pipes and tubes;

• pipe and tube fittings;

• valves and cocks;

• bearings;

• electrical equipment;

• packings and jointings;

• belts;

• welding equipment.

This wide scope explains why the ISSA Catalogue can be used by several departments on the same vessel.

Deck Stores: deck supplies

Deck requirements represent an important part of ship supply.

ISSA references can be used to identify equipment used for deck operations, mooring, rigging, cargo handling and maintenance.

Requirements may include ropes, mooring lines, wires, shackles, rigging accessories, deck equipment, tarpaulins, painting products and cleaning equipment.

For a merchant vessel, the selected supply must be suitable for the intended application. Ropes, shackles and wire ropes must be selected according to their dimensions, construction, material and operating conditions.

Engine Stores: machinery and maintenance

The ISSA Catalogue is also highly relevant to engine-room requirements.

Propulsion systems, power-generation equipment, pumps, cooling systems and fluid-handling installations require a wide range of components and consumables.

Technical categories include:

• bearings;

• gaskets;

• packings;

• belts;

• hoses;

• fittings;

• valves;

• electrical components;

• tools;

• welding equipment;

• maintenance products;

• measuring equipment.

The reference system facilitates procurement requests, but critical spare parts must still be checked against the manufacturer's documentation and the exact technical specifications of the equipment.

Cabin Stores: accommodation and crew supplies

A merchant vessel is also a workplace and living environment for its crew.

The ISSA Catalogue therefore includes categories covering cabin stores and everyday crew requirements.

These may include:

• professional clothing;

• footwear;

• gloves;

• linen;

• cabin supplies;

• galley supplies;

• equipment for common areas;

• sanitary products;

• general supplies.

This section of the catalogue covers requirements that are not directly related to technical maintenance but remain essential to the daily operation of a vessel.

Safety and personal protective equipment

Safety is another important area of ship supply.

The ISSA Catalogue includes categories relating to protective equipment and supplies required for work onboard.

Depending on the vessel's requirements, procurement may include personal protective equipment, work clothing, gloves, footwear, specialist tools and equipment used during hazardous operations.

Requirements must naturally be determined according to the vessel's safety procedures, the operations carried out and the applicable regulatory requirements.

Navigation and nautical equipment

The ISSA Catalogue also includes a category dedicated to nautical equipment.

These supplies may complement equipment carried on the bridge and other equipment required for navigation operations.

It is important, however, to distinguish supply references from hydrographic documentation.

For commercial navigation, professionals use charts and nautical publications produced by organisations such as Shom, Admiralty or NGA, depending on trading areas and vessel requirements.

A vessel operating between Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai or other major international ports must manage both its supply requirements and its navigation documentation requirements.

Tools, hardware and maintenance

Tools represent a significant part of the supplies required onboard.

Professionals can use the catalogue to identify categories such as:

• spanners;

• screwdrivers;

• pliers;

• cutting tools;

• measuring instruments;

• pneumatic tools;

• power tools;

• non-spark tools;

• welding equipment;

• workshop accessories.

The availability of common references facilitates maintenance procurement and the management of technical stocks.

Piping, fittings, valves and components

Piping systems are present throughout many vessel installations.

They may carry seawater, fresh water, fuel, lubricants, cooling fluids and other technical fluids.

The ISSA Catalogue allows professionals to identify categories of pipes, hoses, fittings, valves, cocks, gaskets and related accessories.

When selecting a component, professionals should verify:

• diameter;

• material;

• connection type;

• pressure;

• temperature;

• fluid;

• operating conditions.

These parameters are essential to avoid installing an unsuitable component in a technical system.

The ISSA Catalogue when preparing port calls

One of the main advantages of the ISSA Catalogue becomes apparent during port-call preparation.

A vessel can send a list of requirements to a ship supplier several days before arrival. The list may contain items from completely different areas: engine-room spare parts, deck equipment, tools, cleaning products, safety equipment, cabin supplies and electrical components.

The ISSA nomenclature helps structure this request.

This organisation is particularly useful in major international ports where ship supply operations must be prepared rapidly and accurately.

ISSA and marine procurement

The ISSA Catalogue is directly connected with the field of marine procurement.

Purchasing departments may have to manage simultaneously:

• technical requirements;

• available stocks;

• critical spare parts;

• procurement lead times;

• planned port calls;

• manufacturer's specifications;

• safety requirements;

• crew requirements.

A common nomenclature facilitates the flow of information between vessel, shipowner, ship manager and supplier.

It can also help standardise purchasing throughout a fleet.

A complementary reference to nautical documentation

The ISSA Catalogue does not replace nautical charts, nautical publications or regulatory documents. It belongs to a different category of professional maritime documentation.

Within a professional maritime environment, however, it can be used alongside references from Shom, Admiralty, NGA and other hydrographic organisations or specialist publishers.

This reflects the operational reality of a commercial vessel: teams must manage navigation, maintenance, safety, procurement and onboard living requirements simultaneously.

Why use an ISSA Catalogue?

The ISSA Catalogue primarily makes procurement requirements more precise and easier to understand.

It helps to:

• standardise references;

• identify supplies;

• prepare ship stores lists;

• facilitate international purchasing;

• improve ship-to-shore communication;

• organise onboard stocks;

• prepare port calls;

• support maintenance operations;

• facilitate the work of purchasing departments;

• harmonise fleet procurement.

It is therefore an important documentary tool for ship supply and marine procurement.

Conclusion

The ISSA Catalogue, or ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue, is a major professional reference for identifying and procuring supplies required onboard vessels. Its seven-digit numbering system facilitates communication between crews, shipowners, ship managers, purchasing departments and international marine suppliers.

Its scope is particularly broad. It covers deck stores, nautical equipment, rigging, ropes, marine paints, safety equipment, tools, engine-room supplies, piping, valves, electrical components, maintenance products, cabin stores and numerous consumables required for vessel operations.

For merchant shipping professionals, the ISSA Catalogue is therefore a valuable reference for structuring vessel requirements, preparing ship supply operations and facilitating international procurement.

FAQ – ISSA Catalogue

What is the ISSA Catalogue?

The ISSA Catalogue, or ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue, is a professional reference covering the supplies, equipment, tools, consumables and components required for vessel operation and maintenance.

Who uses the ISSA Catalogue?

It is primarily used by merchant shipping professionals, including shipowners, ship managers, masters, officers, chief engineers, purchasing managers, ship chandlers and ship suppliers.

How many digits does an ISSA reference contain?

The ISSA numbering system uses a seven-digit nomenclature, which is distinct from the six-digit IMPA coding system.

What products are included in the ISSA Catalogue?

The catalogue covers deck stores, nautical equipment, rigging, ropes, safety equipment, tools, maintenance products, piping, valves, electrical equipment, cabin stores and many other marine supplies.

What is the difference between the ISSA and IMPA catalogues?

Both are professional reference systems used in ship supply, but they use different classification and numbering systems. ISSA uses its own seven-digit reference system.

Does the ISSA Catalogue include nautical charts?

It includes a category for nautical equipment, but it does not replace hydrographic charts and publications. Professionals may use documents from organisations such as Shom, Admiralty and NGA alongside marine procurement references.

What is an ISSA reference used for?

It helps identify a marine supply more precisely and facilitates communication between a vessel and its supplier when preparing a procurement request.

Is an ISSA code sufficient to order a technical spare part?

Not necessarily. Mechanical, electrical or hydraulic components may require additional information such as dimensions, material, manufacturer's part number, model or other technical specifications.

Is the ISSA Catalogue used for port calls?

Yes. It can be used to prepare a supply list before a vessel arrives in port and to provide the ship supplier with references for the required items.

Is the ISSA Catalogue only concerned with engine-room supplies?

No. Its scope includes Deck Stores, Engine Stores and Cabin Stores, as well as numerous other categories required for the overall operation of a vessel.