Tidal vs ShipServ: Maritime Procurement Compared

ShipServ is a maritime e-procurement marketplace and supplier search network. Launched in 1999 and now owned by Marcura, it connects maritime buyers with a large network of suppliers through TradeNet and the ShipServ Pages supplier directory, and it offers a free IMPA Marine Stores Guide code search. Tidal is different: it is AI software that reads a chandler's or operator's inbound email RFQs and turns them into accurate, margin-protected quotes, matching line items to IMPA and ISSA codes along the way.

In short, ShipServ is where buyers and suppliers find and transact with each other; Tidal is how a supplier or operator processes the RFQ once it lands. Many suppliers use a marketplace and still retype every RFQ by hand, which is exactly the step Tidal automates.

Tidal vs ShipServ: side by side

	Tidal	ShipServ
Category	AI software that turns email RFQs into margin-protected quotes	Maritime e-procurement marketplace and supplier network (TradeNet, Pages)
AI email-RFQ to quote	Yes, reads email RFQs and generates quotes automatically	Not publicly disclosed; suppliers respond to RFQs through the network
IMPA / ISSA code matching	IMPA and ISSA code matching, 90%+ first-pass	Free IMPA Marine Stores Guide code search; ISSA not publicly stated
Automated margin-protected quoting	Yes, margin rules enforced automatically on every quote	Not publicly disclosed
Pricing	From $2,500/month, publicly listed, no per-RFQ fees or volume caps	Not publicly disclosed
Time to go live	About 1 week, no ERP project required	Not publicly disclosed
Maturity	Newer, focused platform	Established 1999, London; large global supplier network; owned by Marcura
Best for	Chandlers and operators automating inbound RFQs into quotes	Buyers sourcing across a broad supplier network; suppliers wanting marketplace visibility

Competitor details reflect publicly available information at the time of writing; "Not publicly disclosed" means the vendor does not publish that detail. Nothing here is a guess.

Where each one fits

Choose ShipServ when your priority is discovery and reach: finding qualified suppliers across ports, or as a supplier, being found by hundreds of maritime buyers. Its supplier network and directory are the product, and they are backed by more than two decades of operation.

Choose Tidal when the bottleneck is the RFQ itself: an inbox of email enquiries, often 800 or more line items each, that a team retypes and prices by hand. Tidal reads those emails around the clock, matches items to IMPA and ISSA codes, applies your margin rules, and returns a quote in under 30 minutes.

Where Tidal is less mature

Being honest: ShipServ has run a global marketplace since 1999 with a supplier network far larger than anything Tidal operates, and Tidal is not a marketplace at all, so it will not put your listing in front of new buyers. Tidal is also a newer, smaller company; its SOC 2 Type II certification is in progress rather than complete. If you need a supplier discovery network, ShipServ (or its parent Marcura) is the relevant tool, and the two can be used together.

Explore Tidal maritime procurement software

See more comparisons: best ship chandler software in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is ShipServ the same as Tidal?

No. ShipServ is a maritime e-procurement marketplace and supplier network founded in 1999 and now owned by Marcura, connecting buyers with a large network of suppliers. Tidal is AI software that reads a chandler's or operator's email RFQs and turns them into margin-protected quotes automatically. They address different parts of the procurement workflow and can be used together.

Does ShipServ do IMPA and ISSA code matching?

ShipServ publicly offers a free IMPA Marine Stores Guide code search. It does not publicly state ISSA code matching. Tidal matches line items to both IMPA and ISSA codes as part of automated RFQ processing, at 90%+ first-pass accuracy.

How much do Tidal and ShipServ cost?

Tidal is publicly listed from $2,500 per month with no per-RFQ fees or volume caps. ShipServ does not publicly disclose its pricing.

Which should I choose?

If you need to discover suppliers or gain marketplace visibility, ShipServ is the relevant tool. If your bottleneck is turning inbound email RFQs into accurate quotes quickly, Tidal automates that step. Many suppliers use a marketplace and Tidal together.