Impa Code List [2021] · Editor's Choice

If you work in ship management, procurement, or onboard a vessel, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “Just give me the IMPA code.”

In this post, we’re breaking down what the IMPA Code List actually is, why it matters more than ever in 2024, and how to use it to stop ordering the wrong paint rollers. Simply put, the IMPA Code List is the global standard for classifying marine stores and equipment. First published in the 1970s, it assigns a unique 6-digit number to every single item you might need on a ship—from a welding electrode ( 010101 ) to a stainless steel kitchen sink ( 651501 ). impa code list

When you send a requisition with IMPA codes, a supplier in Rotterdam, Singapore, or Houston enters the exact same SKU into their system. No translation needed. This cuts processing time from hours to seconds. If you work in ship management, procurement, or

For those outside the maritime bubble, the (published by the International Marine Purchasing Association) might look like just a dense binder full of random numbers. But to those in the know, it is the lingua franca of ship supply. When you send a requisition with IMPA codes,