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India is one of the leading maritime nations of the world with 6.8 Million
Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) rating 17th in the world. Indian
ships carry about 30% of the cargo in Indias import and export trade
equaling about 87.53 Million tones in 2002-03.
SHIPPING
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Most of the categories of
ships viz. crude tanker, Product Tanker, Bulk Carriers etc. have been
brought under the Open General License (OGL) to facilitate acquisition at
competitive price;
Automatic approval is also
available for acquisition by ship-owing companies for the categories which
are not covered under O.G.I i.e. Barges, tugs and Boats etc.;
Acquisition through Bare
Boat Charter-cum-Demise method;
Shipping Companies have
been allowed to retain sale proceeds of their ships abroad and utilize them
for fresh acquisition;
The Shipping Companies are
now permitted to get their ships repaired in any shipyard without seeking
prior approval from the Government;
Quarterly Block Allocation
scheme for repair of ships has been dispensed with;
Reserve Bank of India
releases foreign exchange for ship repair/dry docking and spares for
imported capital goods, without any value limit;
Freedom to Time Charter
out ships by Indian shipping Companies;
100 percent investment by
NRIs in shipping with full repatriation benefits;
Automatic approval for
foreign direct investment upto 74% in shipping;
Facilities at par with 100
percent EOUs for ship repairs industry;
Freight charges on account
of movement of fertilizers and petroleum products are allowed to be paid in
convertible currency;
No permission is required
for raising foreign exchange loans from abroad by mortgaging the vessels
with the lender;
Action has since been
initiated to formulate a National Shipping Policy to provide fiscal,
financial, administrative and legislative measures for growth and
development of shipping in India.
NINTH
PLAN SHIPPING TARGET
Acquisition of 3.7 Million
Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) at an estimated investment of Rs. 15,000
Crores.
Acquisition of 0.265
Million GRT for coastal Shipping at an investment of Rs. 1200 Crores. |