The Government of India has proposed the following tax incentives in the Budget 2016-17 for strengthening and promoting the Indian maritime sector

(i)         Exclusion of services of transportation of import cargo by ships on voyage charter from Negative List.

Freight charged by  shipping companies for import of goods into India has been excluded from the Negative List and permitted availment of CENVAT credit on inputs used for providing such service. This will bridge the competitive gap between Indian and foreign shipping lines in the taxation sphere.This positive change puts India on par with the major progressive maritime jurisdictions, which already give full credit of taxes paid on inputs used for import cargo.

(ii)        Zero rating of services of transportation of export cargo by Indian ships.

The transport service for export of cargo was not being treated as export and CENVAT credit was also not available for export of goods, which made the service costlier for Indian flag ships.It has now been proposed that the services provided by Indian shipping lines by way of transportation of goods by a vessel to outside India shall be zero rated with effect from March 1, 2016 along with the availability of CENVAT credit for inputs used in providing the service. This will reduce transportation cost and put India at par with the major progressive maritime jurisdictions which have zero rates of taxation on maritime services and also provide full credit of taxes paid on inputs used in the maritime services.

(iii)       Reduction of service tax incidence on coastal shipping.

Realizing the need for encouraging transportation of goods through coastal shipping rather than road or rail, the Government, in the Union Budget 2015-2016, had brought the abatement of service tax at par with road and rail i.e. 70%. However, due to lack of CENVAT credit on inputs used in the service in case the benefit of abatement is availed, the shipping companies were not able to provide services to the customers at lower costs.In the present budget, the Government has rectified this anomaly and allowed shipping companies to charge service tax at abated rate on freight income and avail CENVAT credit on input services.

(iv) Reduction of Central Excise duty on capital goods, raw materials and spares used for repair of ocean going vessels.

This would reduce the material cost used for repair of the ocean going vessels by 4%, if domestically procured.This amendment also permits the shipyards to procure capital goods for ship repair of ocean going vessels at NIL rate of duty as against the existing 12.5%.With the proposed amendment, cost of ship repair and dry-docking in India will reduce.

(v)        Simplification of procedure to avail Customs and Central Excise duty exemption on procurement of goods for shipbuilding and ship repair.

The procedure for procuring goods at concessional/NIL rate of Central Excise and Customs duty for the ship building and ship repair has been considerably streamlined. The new procedure only requires intimation to be sent to the Excise Department instead of their approval for procuring goods at a concessional/NILrate.This would enable the ease of doing business.

(vi)       Rationalization of Interest rates on delayed payments of all indirect taxes.

It is felt that lower interest rates will reduce fiscal burden of maritime sector.

2.         Further, in order to provide the Indian shipping industry a level playing field and make it competitive at international level, the government has earlier implemented certain policies as mentioned below:

(i).        Infrastructure status for shipyards.

The Institutional Mechanism on Infrastructurehas on December 21, 2015 recommended inclusion of shipyards undertaking shipbuilding and ship-repair under the Harmonized List of Infrastructure sectors.

(ii)        Financial assistance and eligibility support for Indian shipyards.

The Government has on December 9, 2015 approved Financial Assistance Policy for Indian shipyards for ten years commencing from April 1, 2016. Government has also approved that all government departments or agencies including CPSUs have to provide Right of First Refusal to Indian shipyards while procuring or repairing vessels.

(iii)       Parity between indigenously built ships and imported ships.

Government has on November 24, 2015 exempted Customs and Central Excise duty on inputs used in manufacture of ships to provide a level playing field between indigenously built ships vis-à-vis imported ships.

(iv)       Ease of Doing Business for Indian shipyards.

Government has on November 24, 2015 relaxed the limitation to operate shipyards under customs control under Section 65 of the Customs Act, 1962 to avail duty free imports or domestic procurement of inputs used in shipbuilding.

(v)        Boost  to movement of containerised cargo through coastal route.

Government has on September 17, 2015, exempted Customs and Central Excise duty leviable on bunker fuels, namely IFO 180 CST and IFO 380 CST, used in Indian flag vessels carrying a mix of EXIM, empty and domestic containers between two ports in India.This tax incentive will reduce operational costs of coastal transportation and will encourage growth of Indian tonnage as well as promote development of transhipment hub in India.

(vi)       Boost availability of special vessels in Indian market.

In order to promote Coastal Shipping and decongesting roads and railways Inland water transportation, Government has, on September 2, 2015, relaxed cabotage for special vessels such as Roll-On Roll-Off (Ro-Ro), Hybrid Roll-On Roll-Off (Hybrid Ro-Ro), Roll-On Roll-Off cum Passenger (Ro-Pax), Pure Car Carriers, Pure Car and Truck Carriers, LNG vessels and Over-Dimensional cargo or Project Cargo Carriers for a period of five years. 

(vii)      Parity for Indian seafarers employed on Indian flag ships vis-à-vis those employed on foreign flag ships.

Government has, on August 17, 2015, brought parity in the tax regime of Indian seafarers employed on Indian flag ships vis-à-vis those on foreign flag ships and mandated that the period of stay in India shall be counted as per the entries made in his/her Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC).This would benefit around 35,000 seafarers presently employed on Indian flag ships. This would not only change the perception of Indian seafarers with regard to serving on Indian ships, but would also reduce the additional cost burden on Indian companies and help retain quality officers.

(viii)     Simplification in collection and assessment of light dues.

E-payment of light dues was put in place on May 5, 2015. For the collection of light dues, a simplified mechanism has already been adopted on November 26, 2014 for container ships whereby collections shall be made on TEU (Twenty feet Equivalent Unit) basis instead of net tonnage basis. This would facilitate faster clearance of ships and reduce detention time of vessels for payment of light dues.

(ix)       Unhindered Right of First Refusal (RoFR) for Indian flag vessels and Indian dredgers while working on Indian coast.

Keeping in view of the Government’s policy of strengthening and promoting the Indian shipping and dredging industry in a competitive framework, Government has, on March 26, 2015, extended the ambit of the Right of First Refusal (RoFR) for Indian flag vessels by removing the earlier 10% price band cap with respect to L1 for operation in coastal waters. Similar benefit has been extended to Indian dredgers for undertaking dredging works in non-major ports. This would help Indian flag vessels as well as dredgers to get more business.

(x)        Simplification of procedure for registration of Ship Repair Units.

As a step towards creating a climate of ease of doing ship repairing business in the country, Government has, on February 13, 2015, simplified the procedure for registration of Ship Repair Units by dispensing with the requirement for their registration with the Director General of Shipping, Mumbai with immediate effect. This would encourage establishment of more ship-repair units which would maximise employment potential.

(xi)       Use of re-rolled steel obtained from ship-breaking for the purposes of ship-building.

To bring down the cost of construction of barges, river sea vessels (RSV Types 1 & 2) and port and harbour crafts and to meet demand for steel by ship and barge builders, the Government has, on February 9, 2015, decided that re-rolled steel obtained from re-cycling yards/ship breaking units would be certified for use in construction of these vessels.

(xii)      Simplifying legal paradigm

13 rules out of 67 under M. S. Act, 1958 are being rescinded. The draft Merchant Shipping Bill is under circulation consisting of 16 parts and 267 sections as against 25 parts and 581 sections of the present M. S. Act in vogue.

(xiii)     Promotion of e-governance for permissions.

· Facility for online application for chartering permission and for e-payment of requisite fee for the charterer has been introduced on December 8, 2015.

· Facility for online application for Multi-modal Transport Operator license and for e-payment of requisite fee for the operators has been introduced on November 30, 2015.

· Facility for online application and for e-payment of requisite fee for issuance of fresh CDC and renewal/replacement/duplicate CDCs has been introduced on June 15, 2015.

· Facility for online application for registration and for e-payment of requisite fee for the shipowners has been introduced on March 20, 2015.

· Facility for online application and assessment for the Certificate of Competency examinations has been introduced on January 12, 2015.