The Panel brings together technical experts from both Member Associations and from shipowners and operators from the passenger ship sector to consider ship design, construction, equipment and operational issues.

The Panel considers the particular issues of the passenger ship sector on a wide range of technical matters, including ship design, construction and equipment, and works to ensure passenger ships continue to be designed and constructed to appropriate standards and to assure the safety of ships, seafarers and passengers and to protect the marine environment. The Panel provides detailed technical expertise to report to and advise the Marine Committee on highly technical issues such as the Safe Return to Port (SRtP) and Classification Society requirements for passenger ships. The Panel considers matters of concern raised by Members, such as incidents related to fire safety and environmental standards.
Representing the interests of Members, the Panel also promotes safer shipping by ensuring that concerns over ship design, construction and equipment are brought to the attention of other stakeholders such as IMO and its member States.

The Panel reports to the ICS Marine Committee and prepares ICS positions on matters discussed in the following IMO Committees and Sub-Committees:

• IMO MSC (Maritime Safety Committee)
• IMO MEPC (Marine Environment Protection Committee)
• IMO CCC (Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers)
• IMO III (Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments)
• IMO PPR (Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response)
• IMO SDC (Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction)
• IMO SSE (Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment)

The Panel may also have connections to and liaise with other external bodies on a case by case basis as deemed appropriate by the Committee.

Such other bodies may include Governmental, Inter-governmental (IGO), Non-governmental (NGO) or public, private or commercial organisations.