Definition
ISSA is the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association, founded in 1955. Where IMPA gathers the purchasers, ISSA gathers the suppliers: about 2,000 members and some 40 national shipsupply associations. It publishes two catalogues with their own numbering — the Ship Stores Catalogue for deck, engine and cabin stores, and the Provisions & Bonded Stores Catalogue for food and for bonded lines such as tobacco, spirits, wine, beer, body care, perfume and clothing.[1,2]
In practice, most owners' purchasing systems requisition technical stores by IMPA code, while the ISSA catalogue is common for provisions and bonded stores. An ISSA number and an IMPA number for the "same" item are not interchangeable, so a requisition should say which catalogue a code comes from.[2]
ISSA also publishes General Conditions of Sale that many chandlers quote under. Among other things they say an accepted quotation is charged as quoted, that goods are delivered to the nearest point a vehicle can reach unless something else is agreed, that risk passes on delivery while title passes only on full payment, and that claims must be made in writing within 8 days. Read them before you accept a quote that refers to them.[3]
Read next on GeoMarineHub
Sources
- [1] ISSA — International Shipsuppliers & Services Association — https://www.shipsupply.org/
- [2] ISSA — Ship Stores and Provisions & Bonded Stores catalogues — https://www.shipsupply.org/issa-catalogue/
- [3] ISSA — General Conditions of Sale — https://www.shipsupply.org/conditions-of-sale/
A working definition for buyers, not legal advice — the contract, the convention text and your club or class have the last word.