The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) on May 20, 2026, issued circular on updated Framework for Ship Leasing.
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), under the powers granted by the IFSCA Act, 2019, has recognized “ship lease” as a financial product through a Gazette notification dated January 07, 2022. This includes operating leases, financial leases, and hybrid lease structures for ships, ocean vessels, their engines, or related parts.
As per the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021, operating lease transactions in ship leasing are classified as permitted non-core activities, while financial lease and hybrid lease transactions are treated as permitted core activities for finance companies operating in IFSCs.
To promote and facilitate ship leasing business in IFSCs in India, IFSCA has introduced a regulatory framework for entities to register under the Finance Company Regulations specifically for undertaking ship lease transactions, thereby providing clarity and structure for such activities.
Kindly find the updated framework attached to document below.
[Circular No. 496/IFSCA/FC/SLF/2022-23/001]
