IMPA and ISSA Catalogue for Merchant Shipping Professionals

Introduction

The IMPA Catalogue and ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue are major professional references for the procurement, equipment, maintenance and operation of merchant vessels. Intended for merchant shipping professionals, shipowners, ship managers, masters, officers, purchasing departments, technical departments, ship suppliers and marine procurement specialists, these catalogues provide a structured way of identifying a very wide range of products required for the operation and maintenance of a vessel.

The Catalogue category at Librairie Maritime Nautic Way therefore brings together professional reference works covering marine supplies and equipment: nautical charts and publications, navigation instruments, deck equipment, professional deck fittings, safety equipment, tools, spare parts, electrical equipment, pipes, valves, mechanical components, technical consumables and many other items used on commercial vessels.

The IMPA Marine Stores Guide is based on a six-digit coding system designed to identify products precisely and facilitate communication between vessels, shipowners, purchasing departments and international suppliers. The ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue uses its own numbering system and is also an established reference for marine supply operations.

These catalogues are therefore much more than simple product lists. They are professional reference tools designed to support ship supply, procurement and communication throughout the maritime industry.

What are IMPA and ISSA catalogues used for?

In merchant shipping, the same product can be described differently depending on the country, manufacturer, supplier or language used. This can create uncertainty when a vessel sends a purchasing request.

IMPA and ISSA reference systems provide a common professional nomenclature. Identifying an item by its catalogue code helps reduce ambiguity concerning its description, dimensions, specifications, unit or intended use.

They are used to:

• prepare vessel supply requisitions;

• identify marine supplies using a standardised reference;

• transmit accurate requirements to a ship supplier;

• prepare orders for port calls;

• organise purchasing for shipowners and ship managers;

• manage onboard requirements;

• facilitate communication between crew, technical departments, purchasing teams and suppliers;

• identify equipment and consumables for commercial vessels;

• structure marine procurement databases.

The catalogue therefore acts as a common language between ship and shore.

A professional reference for merchant shipping

This category is intended exclusively for the professional merchant shipping environment. It concerns container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, chemical tankers, LNG carriers, ro-ro vessels, offshore support vessels and other professional commercial ships.

Users may include:

• shipowners;

• ship managers;

• masters and deck officers;

• chief engineers;

• technical departments;

• purchasing managers;

• procurement managers;

• ship chandlers;

• ship suppliers;

• maintenance departments;

• ship repair companies;

• technical offices;

• marine procurement specialists.

These reference works are particularly useful when a vessel is preparing a port call and needs to send a detailed supply list to a local or international supplier before arrival.

Nautical charts and hydrographic publications

Professional marine procurement may also include documents required for navigation.

Requirements can involve paper nautical charts, electronic charts, nautical publications, sailing directions, port guides and other hydrographic documents.

Professionals may therefore work with publications produced by recognised hydrographic organisations such as Shom, Admiralty or NGA, depending on the vessel's trading area and operational requirements.

Charts and publications may cover very different regions, including the English Channel, North Sea, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Pacific Ocean.

Approaches to ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Le Havre, Marseille, Singapore, Shanghai or Houston require documentation appropriate for commercial navigation.

Navigation instruments and bridge equipment

Professional navigation relies on a combination of electronic, mechanical and optical equipment.

Specialised catalogues can be used to identify various types of bridge equipment and supplies, including:

• compasses and accessories;

• navigation instruments;

• signalling equipment;

• bridge equipment;

• radar accessories;

• AIS-related equipment;

• measuring instruments;

• ECDIS-related equipment;

• communication equipment;

• electrical accessories;

• replacement parts and consumables.

Accurate identification is particularly important during onboard maintenance or when equipment must be supplied before the vessel reaches port.

Deck equipment and professional deck fittings

Deck equipment represents a major part of vessel procurement.

Professional reference systems cover ropes, mooring lines, wires, rigging components, handling accessories and various items used during deck operations.

Requirements may include:

• ropes and mooring lines;

• wire ropes;

• shackles;

• blocks and pulleys;

• rigging components;

• mooring equipment;

• deck fittings;

• cargo-handling accessories;

• painting equipment;

• cleaning equipment;

• deck tools;

• personal protective equipment.

In commercial shipping, accurate identification is essential. A request for a shackle, wire rope or rigging component may need to specify dimensions, product type, material and intended application.

Spare parts and vessel maintenance

One of the most important functions of professional catalogues is supporting maintenance.

A vessel must be able to replace defective components and replenish technical consumables required for its machinery and systems. Structured references make it easier to prepare purchasing requests for suppliers.

Relevant categories may include:

• engines and auxiliary machinery;

• pumps;

• bearings;

• seals and gaskets;

• packing;

• hoses;

• fittings;

• valves;

• mechanical equipment;

• electrical equipment;

• pneumatic tools;

• power tools;

• welding equipment;

• fasteners and bolts;

• technical consumables.

Both preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance can therefore benefit from a structured procurement nomenclature.

Electrical and electronic equipment

Modern vessels rely on extensive electrical and electronic systems for navigation, propulsion, safety and crew operations.

Procurement requirements may include electrical components, cables, connectors, accessories, measuring equipment and various replacement items required for maintenance.

Precise identification is particularly important when a replacement part must match an existing installation. In such cases, catalogue identification can be complemented by the manufacturer's part number, equipment model, technical specifications and information contained in maintenance manuals.

Pipes, valves and fittings

A vessel contains extensive piping systems serving water, fuel, technical fluids, cooling systems, ballast systems and many other functions.

Professional catalogues can cover categories such as:

• pipes;

• fittings;

• flanges;

• gaskets;

• valves;

• cocks;

• connection components;

• pipe accessories;

• maintenance components.

In a marine environment, material, pressure rating, diameter, connection type and compatibility with the transported fluid must be considered.

Safety equipment, protection and onboard supplies

Maritime safety also requires a wide range of equipment and consumables.

Professional reference systems cover categories associated with personal protection, crew safety and routine vessel requirements.

Depending on the relevant catalogue section, these may include protective equipment, professional clothing, safety footwear, gloves, protective accessories, signalling equipment and other supplies used onboard.

Such equipment must be considered in relation to the vessel's safety procedures, the risks associated with particular operations and applicable maritime regulations.

Professional marine tools

A vessel requires a comprehensive range of tools for maintenance and repair work.

Professional catalogues can include:

• spanners and specialist wrenches;

• screwdrivers;

• pliers;

• cutting tools;

• measuring tools;

• pneumatic tools;

• power tools;

• drilling equipment;

• welding equipment;

• maintenance accessories;

• workshop consumables.

Standardised identification facilitates accurate purchasing requests, particularly when several vessels belonging to the same shipowner use a common procurement nomenclature.

A reference for international procurement

One of the main advantages of IMPA and ISSA catalogues is their international character.

A vessel may be operated by a company based in Europe, crewed by an international team, trade in Asia and receive supplies in a Middle Eastern port. In such an environment, a common nomenclature considerably simplifies communication.

Codes and product descriptions help reduce problems caused by differences in language and terminology between suppliers.

This is particularly valuable for ship supply operations in major international ports such as Rotterdam, Singapore, Dubai, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Busan or Houston.

Complementarity with maritime documentation

IMPA and ISSA catalogues belong to a different field from hydrographic publications, but they can be used within the same professional maritime environment.

A technical or purchasing department may therefore work simultaneously with procurement references and navigation documents produced by specialised organisations such as Shom, Admiralty or NGA.

This reflects the operational reality of merchant shipping: a vessel needs up-to-date nautical documentation, regulatory equipment, spare parts, maintenance tools and the supplies required for everyday operations.

Why use a professional IMPA or ISSA catalogue?

For a merchant shipping professional, a catalogue primarily provides a precise method of identifying a requirement.

It helps with:

• preparing supply requisitions;

• understanding a product reference;

• preparing purchasing orders;

• communicating with international suppliers;

• monitoring technical requirements;

• managing onboard stock;

• preparing port calls;

• maintaining vessels;

• standardising purchasing throughout a fleet.

It is therefore a professional documentary tool supporting marine procurement operations rather than a general catalogue intended for leisure boating.

Conclusion

IMPA and ISSA catalogues occupy a specific position within professional merchant shipping documentation. They provide structured nomenclature for identifying the numerous supplies required for vessel operation, maintenance and safety.

Nautical charts, hydrographic publications, navigation instruments, deck equipment, professional deck fittings, ropes, tools, spare parts, electrical equipment, piping, valves, technical consumables and safety equipment are all part of the wider marine procurement environment in which these references are used.

For shipping professionals, IMPA and ISSA catalogues are therefore valuable reference tools for structuring procurement requirements and accurately identifying the equipment and supplies needed to keep a vessel operational.

FAQ – IMPA and ISSA Catalogues

Who are the IMPA and ISSA catalogues intended for?

They are primarily intended for merchant shipping professionals, including shipowners, ship managers, masters, officers, chief engineers, purchasing departments, technical departments, ship suppliers and ship chandlers.

What is the difference between the IMPA and ISSA catalogues?

IMPA and ISSA are separate professional reference systems, each with its own product numbering and classification system for marine procurement.

What can be found in the IMPA catalogue?

The Marine Stores Guide covers numerous categories of marine supplies, including nautical equipment, deck equipment, safety equipment, tools, electrical equipment, piping, valves, spare parts and technical consumables.

Does the IMPA catalogue include nautical charts?

The IMPA reference system includes a section covering nautical charts and publications. Requirements may include charts and documents produced by hydrographic organisations such as Shom, Admiralty and other specialised publishers.

Are IMPA and ISSA catalogues suitable for leisure boating?

They are primarily designed for professional vessel procurement, particularly merchant shipping. Their structure, coding systems and content address the requirements of professional shipping operations.

What are IMPA codes used for?

IMPA codes identify products through a common nomenclature, helping vessels, shipowners and suppliers communicate accurately when preparing procurement requests.

Why use a ship stores catalogue?

A ship stores catalogue helps structure vessel requirements and enables more precise supply requests, particularly when preparing a port call or planning maintenance operations.

Do the catalogues only cover deck equipment?

No. Their scope is much broader and includes tools, safety equipment, electrical supplies, piping, valves, technical components, navigation equipment and many other supplies required for vessel operations.