<h3 data-path-to-node="3"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0">NEW DELHI</b> — <b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="12">Government Directs Massive Capital Injection to Boost Domestic Shipbuilding and Maritime Resilience</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_a94f092d22d2c40a-95"><span data-path-to-node="4,0"><span class="citation-181"></span></span><span data-path-to-node="4,1">In a landmark policy intervention aimed at fundamentally transforming the subcontinent's ocean economy, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the Government of India has approved a comprehensive financial and regulatory package worth ₹69,725 crore</span><span data-path-to-node="4,2"><span class="citation-181 citation-end-181"><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span></span><span data-path-to-node="4,3">. </span><span data-path-to-node="4,4"><span class="citation-180"></span></span><span data-path-to-node="4,5">The initiative is engineered to modernize domestic shipyards, incentivize commercial vessel manufacturing, and significantly upgrade coastal port infrastructure across the nation</span><span data-path-to-node="4,6"><span class="citation-180 citation-end-180"><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span></span><span data-path-to-node="4,7">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1276579682=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h4 data-path-to-node="5"><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="0">Key Financial Pillars &amp; Strategic Interventions</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="6">The newly cleared master package is structured around two major financial mechanisms designed to overcome historical capital constraints in the maritime manufacturing sector:</p><ol start="1" data-path-to-node="7"><li><p data-path-to-node="7,0,0"><span class="citation-179"></span></p><p data-path-to-node="7,0,1" id="p-rc_a94f092d22d2c40a-96"><span data-path-to-node="7,0,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,0,1,0" data-index-in-node="0"><span class="citation-179">Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) Expansion (₹24,736 Crore):</span></b><span class="citation-179"> The scheme has been extended and enhanced to offer direct financial assistance for green-powered vessels, specialized cargo carriers, and large-scale container ships built in Indian shipyards</span></span><span data-path-to-node="7,0,1,1"><span class="citation-179 citation-end-179"><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span></span><span data-path-to-node="7,0,1,2">. By subsidizing baseline construction costs, the state aims to bring price parity between domestic shipbuilders and established global shipyards in East Asia.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1276579682=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="7,1,0"><span class="citation-178"></span></p><p data-path-to-node="7,1,1" id="p-rc_a94f092d22d2c40a-97"><span data-path-to-node="7,1,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,1,1,0" data-index-in-node="0"><span class="citation-178">Maritime Development Fund (MDF) (₹25,000 Crore):</span></b><span class="citation-178"> Established as a specialized financial institution, the MDF will provide long-term, low-cost capital and flexible debt financing to domestic vessel operators and shipyard developers</span></span><span data-path-to-node="7,1,1,1"><span class="citation-178 citation-end-178"><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span></span><span data-path-to-node="7,1,1,2">. This capital buffer is designed to enable local shipping lines to expand their fleets without incurring prohibitive commercial debt interest.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1276579682=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="7,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Port Mechanization &amp; Coastal Infrastructure Upgrades (₹19,989 Crore):</b> The remaining funds are earmarked for deep-water berth expansion, automated harbor crane installations, and last-mile rail and road hinterland connectivity projects across major public-private partnership (PPP) ports.</p></li></ol><h4 data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Driving Industrial Self-Reliance and Tonnage Expansion</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="9">Addressing industry representatives and maritime stakeholders in the capital, Minister Sonowal emphasized that the comprehensive package directly aligns with India's long-term maritime roadmap to secure a top-five position in global shipbuilding and vessel ownership.</p><p data-path-to-node="10">"India’s trade footprint is expanding rapidly, yet a significant portion of our exim cargo remains dependent on foreign-flagged fleets," stated Minister Sonowal. "This ₹69,725 crore package provides the structural backing required to build high-capacity container ships, bulk carriers, and next-generation green vessels on home soil. By expanding our domestic merchant fleet and modernizing shipyard capacity, we are insulating Indian exporters from external supply chain shocks and drastically reducing freight flight."</p><p data-path-to-node="11" id="p-rc_a94f092d22d2c40a-98"><span data-path-to-node="11,0"><span class="citation-177"></span></span><span data-path-to-node="11,1">The announcement has been warmly welcomed by major domestic shipbuilders, port developers, and logistics operators, who expect the infusion of long-term capital to unlock thousands of skilled jobs and boost ancillary manufacturing clusters across coastal states</span><span data-path-to-node="11,2"><span class="citation-177 citation-end-177"><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8"><!----></sup></source-footnote><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c318024766=""><sup _ngcontent-ng-c318024766="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span></span><span data-path-to-node="11,3">.</span></p>