In the first instance Members shall bring short sea shipping matters of concern to the attention of the relevant ICS Committee or Sub-Committee. Where it is deemed that further detailed work is necessary, then the matter will be referred to the SSP. On completion of work the SSP shall report back to the referring Committee or Sub-Committee and also to the Marine Committee as appropriate.

The SSP shall meet on an ad-hoc basis as required.

Short sea shipping for the purposes of the SSP is shipping, regardless of ship size, which operates short voyages within a particular area, and which does not cross oceans. Voyages may be international or domestic.

Responsibilities

The SSP shall:

• Provide technical and operational advice on matters specifically relevant to short sea shipping.
• Advise other ICS bodies on the technical and operational impacts on short sea shipping of policy.
• Prepare documents or information to support ICS advocacy, including submissions to the IMO.

Connections

• 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.