Fleet Supply School
Start Your Career in Fleet Supply
A practical introduction to fleet supply and marine procurement for those who are new to the maritime industry.
Learn how vessels are supplied, how purchasing requests are handled, how suppliers are selected, and how goods reach a vessel in port.
About the Programme
Fleet supply is a critical part of vessel operations. Ships operating around the world require a continuous supply of spare parts, technical equipment, provisions, safety equipment, consumables and other goods necessary for safe and efficient operations.
The Fleet Supply School introduces participants to the fundamentals of marine purchasing and vessel supply.
The programme follows the practical procurement cycle — from receiving a requisition from a vessel to sourcing suppliers, comparing quotations, placing an order and coordinating delivery on board.
The course is designed for people taking their first steps in maritime procurement, fleet operations or ship supply.
What You Will Learn
By completing the programme, participants will understand:
- how the maritime industry and vessel supply chain are organised;
- what vessels typically purchase and why;
- how vessel requisitions and purchase requests are processed;
- how to search for and communicate with marine suppliers;
- how quotations are requested and compared;
- the basics of marine purchasing and supplier selection;
- how orders are placed and followed up;
- how deliveries to vessels are organised;
- what documents are commonly used in marine procurement;
- how purchasing, technical teams, vessels, agents and suppliers work together.
Who Is This Programme For?
The programme is designed for:
Career starters
People considering their first role in maritime procurement, purchasing or ship supply.
Junior maritime professionals
Employees who have recently joined a shipowner, ship-management company, marine supplier or maritime logistics company.
Professionals moving ashore
Seafarers interested in understanding shore-based procurement and fleet supply functions.
Career changers
Professionals from purchasing, logistics or supply chain roles who want to understand how procurement works specifically within the maritime industry.
No previous experience in marine procurement is required.
Modules
Understand the environment in which fleet supply operates.
Topics include
- How the shipping industry works
- Shipowners, ship managers and operators
- Main vessel types
- Vessel and shore-based teams
- Technical and operational departments
- Ports, agents and marine suppliers
- The role of procurement in vessel operations
Outcome
You will understand where the purchasing function sits within a shipping company and how it interacts with vessels and shore-based departments.
Learn what vessels purchase during everyday operations.
Topics include
- Technical spare parts
- Deck and engine stores
- Safety equipment
- Tools and consumables
- Electrical supplies
- Cabin and hotel stores
- Provisions
- Chemicals and lubricants
- Understanding specifications, quantities and units
- Introduction to marine purchasing catalogues and product codes
Outcome
You will learn to recognise the main categories of vessel supplies and understand the information required to source the correct item.
Follow a typical marine procurement process from the vessel’s request to an approved order.
Topics include
- Vessel requisitions
- Purchase requests
- Checking specifications
- Request for Quotation (RFQ)
- Working with multiple suppliers
- Reading and comparing quotations
- Price, availability and lead time
- Supplier selection
- Purchase Orders (PO)
- Order confirmation
- Follow-up and order status
Practical case
Process a sample vessel requisition and prepare a supplier comparison.
Outcome
You will understand the complete basic purchasing workflow used by fleet procurement teams.
Learn how buyers work with suppliers in different ports and countries.
Topics include
- Types of marine suppliers
- Local and international sourcing
- Finding suitable suppliers
- Supplier enquiries
- Evaluating quotations
- Availability and substitutes
- Negotiating basic commercial terms
- Supplier reliability
- Building a supplier database
- Professional communication with suppliers
Practical case
Select a supplier based on price, availability, delivery time and commercial conditions.
Outcome
You will understand that the lowest quotation is not always the best purchasing decision and learn how different factors affect supplier selection.
Understand what happens after the purchase order has been placed.
Topics include
- Vessel schedules and port calls
- Delivery deadlines
- Coordination with vessel agents
- Delivery to port, warehouse and vessel
- Last-mile delivery
- Launch and barge delivery
- Customs and port restrictions
- Packaging and labelling
- Delivery notes
- Proof of delivery
- Handling delays and changes in vessel schedule
Practical case
Plan the delivery of an urgent order to a vessel during a limited port call.
Outcome
You will understand why marine procurement does not end when an order is placed and how logistics affects purchasing decisions.
Learn the basic documents and routines used in marine procurement.
Topics include
- Requisition
- RFQ
- Supplier quotation
- Comparative quotation / bid comparison
- Purchase Order
- Order confirmation
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Delivery note
- Basic purchasing records
- Email communication
- Tracking open orders
- Working with procurement and fleet management systems
Practical case
Follow one purchase from requisition through quotation, PO, delivery and invoice.
Outcome
You will understand the documentation behind a typical fleet purchasing transaction and how procurement teams keep control of multiple orders.
At the end of the programme, participants complete a simulated fleet supply assignment.
You receive a requisition from a vessel preparing for an upcoming port call.
Your task is to
- review the vessel’s requirements;
- identify the information required for purchasing;
- request and evaluate supplier quotations;
- select an appropriate supplier;
- prepare the purchase order;
- plan delivery to the vessel;
- check the required purchasing and delivery documents.
The case brings together the complete workflow covered during the programme.
Skills You Will Gain
After completing the programme, you will have a foundation in:
Marine Procurement
Understanding the basic purchasing cycle for vessel requirements.
Supplier Sourcing
Finding and evaluating marine suppliers.
RFQ & Quotation Analysis
Requesting and comparing commercial offers.
Purchase Orders
Understanding how orders are prepared, placed and followed up.
Marine Logistics
Understanding the challenges of delivering goods to vessels.
Procurement Documentation
Working with the core documents used throughout the purchasing process.
Supplier Communication
Communicating effectively with suppliers, agents, vessels and internal teams.
Disclaimer: This educational programme is intended for professional development purposes only. Any certificate issued confirms completion of the programme and does not constitute a formal professional qualification, accreditation, or licence.
$820 excl. tax
Apply for the programmeProgramme
- Start
- 10 March 2026
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Format
- Online
- Language
- Russian and English
- Level
- Entry level
Included
- 6 modules and a final practical case
- Real cases, workflows and documents
- Learn at your own pace
- Support from a curator
- Access to a practitioner-methodologist
Apply for the programme
Fleet Supply School · starts 10 March 2026. Applications are reviewed in order of receipt.
- Online, at your own pace
- Payment terms sent with the confirmation
- Level check before enrolment, not an exam