Multi-Vendor Annual Supply Agreement for Singapore Shipyard

Project Overview

A mid-sized ship repair yard in Singapore handling 60+ vessel repairs annually needed a consolidated sourcing partner in China to replace their fragmented supply chain of 20+ individual vendors. The yard wanted to reduce procurement overhead while maintaining quality and classification compliance across multiple product categories.

Challenge

• 20+ Chinese suppliers — each requiring separate purchase orders, quality checks, and logistics coordination
• Inconsistent documentation quality — some suppliers missing class certificates, leading to survey delays
• Multiple classification societies — each vessel arrives with different class requirements
• Unpredictable demand — repair orders often require 7-day or faster delivery

Our Solution

Hicool established a framework supply agreement covering 8 product categories:

• Piping & Fittings — carbon steel, stainless steel, CuNi, various class approvals
• Valves — gate, globe, butterfly, check valves, JIS/ANSI standards
• Pumps & Parts — centrifugal pump spares, mechanical seals, impellers
• Electrical Components — marine switchgear, cables, navigation lights
• Deck Machinery Parts — winch brakes, hydraulic components, wire rope
• HVAC Components — compressor parts, refrigerant, copper piping
• Bearings & Seals — stern tube components, shaft seals, roller bearings
• Instrumentation — pressure gauges, temperature sensors, level switches

Each order is processed through Hicool's single-point system: the yard sends one PO, we source from our pre-qualified vendor network, consolidate shipments, and deliver with unified documentation packages meeting any class society requirement.

Results (First 12 Months)

• 147 purchase orders processed — average delivery time 18 days
• Zero class survey rejections due to documentation issues
• Yard's procurement staff time reduced by approximately 60%
• Overall cost saving of 25-35% compared to previous fragmented sourcing
• Emergency orders (10 instances): average 8-day delivery

Key Takeaway

Ship repair yards benefit enormously from a consolidated China sourcing partner. Instead of managing 20+ suppliers, one relationship handles procurement, quality control, classification documentation, and logistics — freeing the yard's team to focus on repair execution rather than supply chain management.