- Total delivered cost is the full cost of getting the part on board, not the unit price.
- It includes price, packing, freight, forwarding, customs handling, agency and launch costs.
- Lead time matters too: a part that misses the vessel creates a second delivery.
- Compare like for like by part type, currency and delivery terms.
What total delivered cost includes
- Parts price, after any discount.
- Packing and documentation, including certificates where needed.
- Freight and forwarding from the supplier to the delivery port.
- Customs and ship spares in transit handling, where applicable.
- Port, agency and launch costs for delivery alongside or at anchorage.
- Currency conversion, so every quote is in the same currency.
A simple example
| Supplier | Parts | Delivery | Delivered total |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | USD 17,650 | USD 770 | USD 18,420 |
| B | USD 19,480 | USD 1,210 | USD 20,690 |
| C | USD 19,900 | USD 1,250 | USD 21,150 |
Illustrative figures.
In practice the order often changes once delivery is added. A supplier close to the port with stock on the shelf can beat a cheaper supplier that has to air-freight the part and pay for a separate launch.
Lead time is a cost
A part that arrives after the vessel has sailed must be forwarded to the next port, which can double the delivery cost. Always check lead time against the vessel’s schedule, and treat “ex stock” claims with a confirmation of the stock location.
Keep it like for like
- Compare within the same part type, or show the type per line.
- Check that quantities and units match the requisition.
- Note lines a supplier did not quote, and lines with substitutes.
How Atlas Supply compares quotes
Atlas Supply normalises every supplier’s quote into one comparison on total delivered cost, line by line, with part type and lead time, and checks lead time against the vessel’s schedule. You approve one proposal in the client portal or by email.
Questions
What is total delivered cost in ship supply?
The full cost of getting an item on board: parts price, packing, freight, customs handling, agency and launch costs, in one currency.
Why not just choose the lowest unit price?
Because delivery costs and lead times differ between suppliers. A cheaper part that needs air freight and a separate launch can cost more on board.