Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited has announced its formal entry into maritime financing after its Board sanctioned loans worth Rs 43 billion for disbursement in the current financial year. Including this sanction, the company aims to build a loan book of Rs 80 billion in FY26, strengthening its position as a specialised lender to the maritime sector. The corporation said credit ratings from leading rating agencies are expected shortly, which should help optimise borrowing costs and enhance funding flexibility. The expansion strategy is backed by strong institutional support from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which has designated SMFCL as the nodal agency for setting up and coordinating the flagship Maritime Development Fund with a corpus of Rs 250 billion. The fund comprises a Maritime Investment Fund of Rs 200 billion and an Interest Incentivisation Fund of Rs 50 billion. SMFCL said it will hold and manage the Government of India’s contribution to the Alternative Investment Fund established for the Maritime Investment Fund in a fiduciary capacity. It will also act as the nodal agency for channelling the Interest Incentivisation Fund, further expanding its role in maritime sector financing. In addition, the notification of guidelines for the Shipbuilding Financing Assistance Scheme, with an outlay of Rs 447 billion, is expected to open new avenues for investment and collaboration, the company said. SMFCL will offer tailored loan products to eligible government and private sector entities across the maritime value chain. Its product suite will include short-, medium- and long-term loans, financing for cash-flow mismatches, balance-sheet funding and non-fund-based products. Formerly known as Sagarmala Development Company Limited, SMFCL is India’s first maritime sector-focused non-banking financial company. It was registered as an NBFC with the Reserve Bank of India on June 19, 2025. Operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the corporation aims to bridge financing gaps in the maritime sector and support ports, shipping companies, MSMEs, start-ups and maritime educational institutions with sector-specific financial solutions.