Plan Assets and Obligations  Changes in plan assets and obligations during the years ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 and the funded status of the U.S. defined benefit pension plan and the supplemental plan (referred to collectively as  "Pension Benefits") and the postretirement health care and life insurance plan (referred to as "Other  Benefits") at March 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows: Pension Benefits Other Benefits (In thousands)  2010  2009  2010  2009  Change in benefit obligation  Benefit obligation at beginning of year  $ 74,022  75,363  30,513  33,507  Service cost 900 1,061 1,005 1,124 Interest cost 4,700 4,598 2,145 2,056 Participant contributions --- --- 458 411 Plan amendments --- --- --- 2,010 Benefits paid (3,374) (3,820) (1,015) (1,097) Plan settlements (8,635) --- --- --- Actuarial (gain) loss 11,944 (3,180) (1,892) (7,498) Benefit obligation at end of year  79,557  74,022  31,214  30,513  Change in plan assets  Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year  $ 41,158  42,909  ---  ---  Actual return 7,923 (3,600) --- --- Employer contributions 14,172 5,669 557 686 Participant contributions --- --- 458 411 Benefits paid (3,374) (3,820) (1,015) (1,097) Settlement paid (8,635) --- --- --- Fair value of plan assets at end of year  51,244  41,158  ---  ---  Reconciliation of funded status  Fair value of plan assets  $ 51,244  41,158  ---  ---  Benefit obligation 79,557 74,022 31,214 30,513 Unfunded status $ (28,313) (32,864) (31,214) (30,513) Net amount recognized in the balance sheet consists of:  Current liabilities $ (940) (9,687) (1,702) (1,973) Noncurrent liabilities (27,373) (23,177) (29,512) (28,540) Net amount recognized $ (28,313) (32,864) (31,214) (30,513) (In thousands)  2010 2009 Projected benefit obligation  $ 79,557 74,022 Accumulated benefit obligation  78,257 69,884 (In thousands)  2010 2009 Projected benefit obligation  $ 79,557 74,022 Accumulated benefit obligation  78,257 69,884 Fair value of plan assets  51,244 41,158 F-23 The following table provides information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess  of plan assets (includes both the pension plan and supplemental plan): The following table provides the projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation for the  pension plans: TIDEWATER INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 