Achilles, a global leader in supply chain risk and performance management, are entering into a partnership with the International Marine Purchasing Association (“IMPA”). Established in 1978, IMPA is a leading global organisation for maritime purchasing and supply professionals.
Representing more than 1,000 shipowners, ship managers, and maritime suppliers across over 90 countries, IMPA works to promote best practice, professional development, responsible procurement, and greater collaboration across maritime supply chains.
Its work spans industry insights, sustainability, education, networking, and the Marine Stores Guide, supporting professionals and organisations across the sector.
Through the partnership, IMPA and Achilles will explore opportunities to support the Achilles Maritime Network – a collaborative initiative designed to help shipping companies and their suppliers advance decarbonisation, improve supply chain transparency, respond to stakeholder expectations, and navigate emerging legislation.
The network gives shipping suppliers and contractors access to continuous improvement support and due diligence reporting across a range of geographies and risks, helping organisations work more efficiently, strengthen supplier relationships, and identify opportunities for growth.
The partnership brings together IMPA’s global community of maritime purchasing and supply professionals with Achilles’s experience in supply chain risk management.
It will create opportunities for IMPA members to learn more about and engage with the Achilles Maritime Network as suppliers or buying organisations, supporting a more consistent approach to supplier assessment and responsible procurement. IMPA members will also have access to discounts and periodic offers intended to support compliance and risk management activities.
As supply chains become increasingly complex and exposed to geopolitical and regulatory risks, maritime organisations are under growing pressure to understand their supplier base and respond quickly to emerging issues. Through this partnership, IMPA members will be able to explore Achilles’s independently validated supplier information and consider how shared due diligence approaches could reduce duplication, improve visibility, and support more informed procurement decisions.
Stuart Wheeler, Head of Partnerships at Achilles, said: “The maritime supply chain still faces fragmented supplier risk management, with organisations often duplicating due diligence and suppliers repeatedly providing the same information to different customers. Our collaboration with IMPA represents an important step towards a more consistent and collaborative approach.
“IMPA has a unique understanding of the needs of maritime purchasing professionals, and this partnership will help us introduce the Achilles Maritime Network to a broader community of buyers and suppliers. By working together, we aim to make it easier for organisations to access trusted supplier information, manage risk more effectively, and build more resilient and responsible supply chains.”
Stephen Alexander, IMPA COO, said: “Our members operate at the heart of the maritime supply chain and understand the importance of having reliable, consistent information when making purchasing and supplier decisions. As supply chain risk becomes increasingly complex, collaboration and standardisation can help the industry respond effectively.
“We are pleased to work with Achilles and to give our members the opportunity to learn more about the Achilles Maritime Network and its approach to supplier assurance and supply chain risk management. The collaboration comes as the maritime sector faces an increasingly complex risk environment, with organisations balancing operational resilience and cost pressures alongside growing expectations around sustainability, responsibility, and supply chain transparency.
“By encouraging dialogue between buyers and suppliers and sharing approaches to supplier assurance, IMPA and Achilles hope to support greater efficiency and transparency across maritime supply chains.”
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