The establishment of GIFT IFSC brought significant emphasis on the maritime sector, fostering the growth of various financial services. India, with its vast coastline and extensive global and domestic trade through the sea, has a significant strategic interest in the maritime industry. Nevertheless, many famous shipping companies prefer to operate from countries like Singapore, Dubai or Hong Kong. Therefore, the IFSCA has included ship leasing as one of the offerings that can be undertaken by a finance company that has a presence at GIFT IFSC. They can be functioning under an operating lease, finance lease, or hybrid lease. In GIFT IFSC, ship leasing allows shipping companies and operators to rent vessels to have access to various financial products.

Legal Structure of Setting up Ship Leasing Entities in GIFT IFSC 

Legal Structure of Setting up Ship Leasing Entities in GIFT IFSC

*Wholly Owned Subsidiary (including subsidiary incorporated outside IFSC) of IFSC registered entity 

Permissible Activities Under the Said License

The following activities are permitted under ship leasing license: 

  • Purchase, novation, transfer, assignment in relation to ship leasing 
  • Sale and leaseback 
  • Contracts of affreightment 
  • Leasing of voyage charters 
  • Employment in shipping pools 
  • Asset management support services (including third-party asset management services) 
  • Ship broking related to ship-leasing activities (separately covered under different licence) 

Minimum Owned Funds Requirements

Lease Type  Minimum Owned Funds 
Operating Lease  USD 0.2 million 
Finance Lease   USD 3 million  
Hybrid Lease   USD 3 million  

Process Flow of Setting-up Ship Leasing Entities in GIFT IFSC

Process Flow of Setting-up Ship Leasing Entities in GIFT IFSC

Specific Conditions

Under SEZ Act, 2005, ship leasing entities are exempt from physically bringing in goods into SEZ premises as GIFT City does not have seaports. Ship leasing entities are also required to comply with the provisions of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

Types of Ship Leases Available at GIFT IFSC

Three major types of ship lease options are operating lease, finance lease and hybrid lease. Operating lease is a short period rental contract normally lasting a few months in which vessel is delivered for the purpose of operations. Finance leases, which are equivalent to buying credit are most suitable for those firms that have long-term fleet expansion objectives and often go over ten years. Hybrid involves elements of both operating and finance leases, thus providing tailor-made solutions in relation to ship leasing at GIFT IFSC.

GIFT IFSC offers three ship leasing options:

Operating Lease

Operating lease allows leasing of a ship for a shorter duration. This may be ideal for temporary uses where a seasonal demand is met without having to own ships on a long-term basis. For instance, a cruise line might rent an upscale yacht during summer (e.g., 4 months) with fixed monthly instalments funded by the financial institution covering maintenance.

Finance Lease

Functioning akin to buying a ship on credit, finance leases are suitable for companies looking for long-term fleet growth solutions which usually take more than a decade. Under the lease payments, part of the ship’s value is financed with an option to buy the ship at the end of the lease period. For example, a shipping company may enter into a long-term lease agreement for a new cargo vessel that would last most of its life and transfer ownership at maturity of such lease.

Hybrid Lease

At GIFT IFSC, hybrid leasing combines features from both operational and financial leases to offer tailored alternatives for ship leasing. This is in cases where traditional lease structure may not be appropriate. For instance, if a shipping firm needs a bigger boat for a particular project that lasts less than five years, then hybrid leasing could have higher initial rentals compared to normal operational leasing. However, it comes with an option to purchase at the time of maturity of the contract.

Benefits of a Ship Lessor Registered in GIFT IFSC 

   Particulars     Benefits 
Income Tax Act 
  • 100% profit-linked deduction for any 10 years in a row out of the first 15 years of operations, at the option of the company. 
  • Carry forward of unabsorbed depreciation to the subsequent years to be set off against future profits, without any time limit. 
  • MAT/AMT @ 9% of book profits applies to company/others established   as a unit in IFSC (MAT not applicable to companies in IFSC opting for new tax regime). 
  • No WHT on interest paid to non-residents by units in the IFSC i.e. interest income exempted from tax. 
  • No WHT on lease payments, royalty, paid to non-residents by units in the IFSC (provided operations commence before specified date) i.e. operating lease rentals exempt from tax. 
  • No WHT on lease payments received from Indian lessee during the tax holiday period. 
  • 100% profit linked deduction available on capital gains arising on transfer of ship/ocean vessel leased by IFSC unit to domestic company (provided operations commence before specified date). 
Goods and Service Tax  
  • Supplies to an IFSC entity shall be regarded as ’zero-rated supply’ and accordingly no GST shall be levied, provided the supplier had obtained Letter of Undertaking (LUT).  
  • Leasing of ships by the IFSC unit to customers located in DTA unit shall be subject to IGST. 
  • Imports by the IFSC unit shall not be subject to  the reverse charge mechanism under GST if the import of goods/services is for the authorized operations of the IFSC unit. 
Other Benefits  
  • Government of Gujarat has granted waiver of stamp duty on acquisition of vessels and related activities up to March 2027. 
  • Under corporate law, IFSC companies benefit from a streamlined governance structure with fewer mandatory board meetings and relaxed restrictions on creating subsidiaries, fostering greater operational flexibility. 

Regulatory Fees for Ship Leasing Entities GIFT IFSC

1. IFSCA Fees

Particulars  Ship Operating Lease  Ship Financial Lease 
Application fees (one-time)   USD 1,000  USD 1,000  
Registration fees (one-time)   USD 12,500  USD 12,500 
Annual fees (recurring fee)   USD 5,000  USD 12,500 

2. SEZ Authorities Fees

Particulars  Amount (in INR) 
Application fees (one-time)   5,000 
Registration fees (one-time)   25,000 
Recurring fees (annual)   5,000 

Conclusion

Maritime businesses seeking flexibility and cost-effectiveness in their operations can enjoy a strategic advantage through ship leasing in the GIFT IFSC. Various types of leases are available in this region, combined with a supportive regulatory environment that includes tax incentives, streamlined governance, and others. Notably, key players such as Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India, Foresight Shipping, Alphard Maritime Group, Bothra Group, and ACT Group are heading to the GIFT IFSC. Against this backdrop, this framework aims to promote growth and innovation in global shipping while facilitating responsible trade.

Why Choose InCorp Advisory?

Our team at InCorp has the expertise to offer comprehensive assistance throughout the entire process of incorporating a ship leasing entity in GIFT City IFSC. Listed below are the services we offer:

  • Assistance in structuring the entity as per the requirement
  • Providing advisory services on regulation and taxation to ensure compliance and optimal structuring
  • Assistance in preparing necessary documentation required for incorporation of ship leasing entities in GIFT City IFSC
  • Assistance in setting up ship leasing entities and post-setup requirements and compliance, if any required

To learn more about our GIFT City services, you can write to us at info@incorpadvisory.in or reach out to us at (+91) 77380 66622.

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