Other steps taken by the Government to revive shipbuilding industry include extension of the Shipbuilding Subsidy Scheme of 2002-2007 from October 2009 till March 31, 2014 for liquidation of committed liabilities for ship-building contracts secured during 2002-2007 under the scheme.
Shipping is highly capital intensive and depends largely on the debt market to finance its acquisitions. The extreme volatility in charter rates has adversely affected the margins of the shipping companies. The current meltdown in the international financial markets has placed the Indian Shipping industry in a situation where assets are available to be acquired at reasonable prices, but the availability of money on loan is almost dried up through the normal international commercial bank channels; if any credit is available, it is at a very high cost and stringent terms.