ShipServ
ShipServ is a London-headquartered B2B maritime trading platform that connects global shipowners and vessel operators with 30,000+ verified suppliers of marine spare parts, equipment, chandlery, provisions, and marine services via RFQ workflows and the IMPA-coded catalogue, operating under the Marcura group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What ShipServ does
ShipServ is a B2B maritime trading platform, founded in 1999 and headquartered in London, that connects ship owners, vessel operators, and offshore buyers with a global network of verified suppliers of marine spare parts, equipment, chandlery, provisions, and marine services. Its core products are the Trade Platform for Buyers (sourcing, RFQ, and procurement optimisation) and the Trade Platform for Suppliers (listings, RFQ responses, premium profiles, and advertising), supported by the IMPA Catalogue partnership that makes 50,000 standardised marine store codes searchable on the platform. The supplier directory spans 40+ categories with 30,000+ verified suppliers — including 14,000 in marine services, 4,000 in pumps and valves, 3,000 in safety and chandlery, 2,000 in provisions, deck spares, and compressors — and features brand-indexed pages for major OEMs such as MAN, Caterpillar, ABB, Alfa Laval, Wartsila, Cobham, Hamworthy, and Sauer.
The company's business model is a two-sided marketplace monetised primarily through supplier-side fees (listing, premium profile, advertising/promotion) and, by implication, commissions or transaction-fee economics on facilitated trade, with pricing not publicly disclosed. It serves global enterprise maritime customers including Altera Infrastructure, Anglo Eastern, ARC, Anthony Veder, Atlantic Towing, APL, Berge Bulk, BOA, Crowley, Costa, and Offen Group, and reaches into at least Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and South America. Headcount is reported at 101-250, and the company operates as a privately held UK entity under the Marcura group, alongside Marcura's other maritime solutions (DA-Desk, PortLog, PortsDirect, Claims, Compliance, MarTrust, VesselMan). Two historical external funding rounds total approximately $8.25M (a $5M round in 2000 led by Ionian Ventures and a $3.25M round in 2010 with undisclosed investors); no recent funding, revenue, or valuation is disclosed.
ShipServ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ShipServ
- Legal name
- ShipServ Limited
- Website
- https://shipserv.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ShipServ is a London-headquartered B2B maritime trading platform that connects global shipowners and vessel operators with 30,000+ verified suppliers of marine spare parts, equipment, chandlery, provisions, and marine services via RFQ workflows and the IMPA-coded catalogue, operating under the Marcura group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ShipServ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime B2B Marketplace
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains) (IMAJAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Engine & Mechanical Overhaul (Main/Aux Engines, Pumps, Valves, Compressors) (TLAHAMAD), Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)
Keywords
Where ShipServ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
ShipServ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trade facilitation: Platform facilitates trade between maritime buyers and suppliers, likely earning commissions or transaction fees on completed trades
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
ShipServ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ShipServ operates an online B2B trading platform that connects maritime buyers (shipowners, vessel operators) with a global network of over 30,000 verified suppliers of marine spare parts, equipment, chandlery, provisions, and marine services. The platform enables buyers to source products, submit RFQs, and search the IMPA Catalogue's 50,000 standardized Marine Stores Guide codes, while suppliers can list products, respond to buyer RFQs, and grow their maritime business.
Product overview
ShipServ is a maritime trading platform that provides simple, secure, and sustainable trade solutions connecting buyers (shipowners, vessel operators) with suppliers of marine spare parts and equipment. The core platform consists of two main offerings: Trade Platform for Buyers (enabling sourcing from a global network of trusted suppliers) and Trade Platform for Suppliers (connecting suppliers with buyers worldwide to respond to RFQs). The platform integrates the IMPA Catalogue with 50,000 marine store codes for product search. Buyer solutions include Facilitate & Optimise Trade, Sustainable Trade, and Secure Trade Operations. The platform organizes products across 40+ categories including Marine Safety (3,000 suppliers), Pumps (4,000 suppliers), Valves (4,000 suppliers), Marine Services (14,000 suppliers), Compressors (2,000 suppliers), Provisions, Chandlery, Deck Spares, and Welding Supplies. ShipServ also features supplier and brand directories covering major maritime equipment brands including MAN, Caterpillar, ABB, Alfa Laval, and Wartsila.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trade Platform for Buyers A maritime trading platform enabling buyers (shipowners, vessel operators, maritime companies) to source from a global network of trusted suppliers and streamline their maritime procurement process. Includes access to RFQ functionality and IMPA Catalogue search.
- Trade Platform for Suppliers A maritime trading platform enabling suppliers (marine equipment manufacturers, chandlers, service providers) to connect with buyers worldwide, respond to RFQs, showcase products, and grow their maritime business.
- IMPA Catalogue The Marine Stores Guide (MSG) integrated with ShipServ.com, providing free search across 50,000 standardized IMPA codes for marine spare parts and supplies. Available via the IMPA Catalogue partnership with the International Marine Purchasing Association.
Quantifiable outcome
- Connects buyers with 30,000+ verified maritime suppliers globally
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ShipServ
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ShipServ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ShipServ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- IMPA (International Marine Purchasing Association)coreShipServ partners with IMPA to provide the IMPA Catalogue - The Marine Stores Guide with 50,000 standardized codes. This integration enables maritime buyers to search for products using industry-standard IMPA codes, enhancing procurement efficiency and standardization across the maritime supply chain.
- MarcuracoreMarcura is the parent company operating ShipServ along with other maritime solutions including DA-Desk, PortLog, PortsDirect, Claims, Compliance, MarTrust, and VesselMan. These integrated solutions provide a comprehensive maritime trade ecosystem.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ShipServ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tradeshift: Tradeshift operates a global B2B trade network and marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers, with similar marketplace dynamics to ShipServ but across multi-vertical trade rather than maritime-specific procurement.
Broad incumbents
- SAP Ariba: SAP Ariba is the dominant enterprise procurement and supplier network platform, with maritime-relevant catalogs and supplier discovery that overlap with ShipServ's procurement marketplace functionality at far greater scale.
- Coupa Software: Coupa is a broad spend management and B2B procurement platform with marketplace and supplier catalog capabilities that increasingly encroach on vertical procurement marketplaces like ShipServ.
- Jaggaer: Jaggaer is an enterprise indirect spend and supplier management platform with category-specific marketplaces, comparable in scope to ShipServ's procurement orchestration but at multi-vertical scale.
- Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä is a major marine engine and systems OEM with direct parts and service channels (Wärtsilä SmartShip, Services) that compete with ShipServ's marketplace for high-value marine equipment and engine spares.
Emerging players
- Keelvar: Keelvar provides AI-driven procurement optimization and sourcing automation, with maritime and shipping customers that overlap with ShipServ's buyer base, representing an emerging competitive vector.
- Hypersonix: Hypersonix offers AI-driven procurement and pricing intelligence with maritime-sector applicability, representing an emerging competitor to traditional procurement marketplaces like ShipServ.
Others
- Veson Nautical: Veson Nautical provides maritime commercial software (Vessel & Cargo management, IMOS platform) used by shipping operators, making it an ecosystem-adjacent player rather than a direct ShipServ competitor.
- MarineTraffic: MarineTraffic is a global vessel tracking and maritime data platform; it operates in the maritime digital ecosystem alongside ShipServ but serves AIS/operational visibility rather than procurement.
- KVH Industries: KVH provides maritime connectivity, VSAT, and content services to commercial fleets, serving the same shipping customer base as ShipServ but in communications rather than procurement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ShipServ social profiles
Digital presenceShipServ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ShipServ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ShipServ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ShipServ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ShipServ
What does ShipServ do?
ShipServ operates an online B2B trading platform that connects maritime buyers (shipowners, vessel operators) with a global network of over 30,000 verified suppliers of marine spare parts, equipment, chandlery, provisions, and marine services. The platform enables buyers to source products, submit RFQs, and search the IMPA Catalogue's 50,000 standardized Marine Stores Guide codes, while suppliers can list products, respond to buyer RFQs, and grow their maritime business.
Is ShipServ a public or private company?
ShipServ is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ShipServ founded?
ShipServ was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ShipServ based?
ShipServ is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ShipServ make money?
One revenue line is on record: trade facilitation.
Who are ShipServ's main competitors?
Tradeshift is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are SAP Ariba, Coupa Software, Jaggaer and Wärtsilä. Emerging players are Keelvar and Hypersonix. Others are Veson Nautical, MarineTraffic and KVH Industries.
Does ShipServ have an API?
No public API is recorded for ShipServ.
What industry is ShipServ in?
ShipServ's product category is Maritime B2B Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAIAK, Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains), with a secondary code of TLAHAMAD, Engine & Mechanical Overhaul (Main/Aux Engines, Pumps, Valves, Compressors). Its NAICS code is 4883 and its SIC code is 5080.