Maharashtra Signs Deal to Modernize Mumbai’s Sassoon Dock

The Maharashtra government on March 7, 2026 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Finnish companies to modernize Sassoon Dock. This agreement was signed by the Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation with Finland’s Helvar, Mirasis and River Recycle at an event held in Mumbai.

• Speaking on this occasion, the state’s Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane said that currently there are about 1,560 registered machine-driven fishing boats at Sassoon Dock, and on average 50,000 to 60,000 metric tons of fish are produced here every year.
• It is an important economic center for the fishing community, and it is a priority for the Maharashtra government.
• In recent days, along with the construction of net repairing sheds, workshops, underground water tanks, water pipelines, pump houses and security walls, renovation of public facilities has also been done.
• He said that work related to the ice plant, strengthening of the jetty wall, toilets for fishermen and a modern auction hall is being carried out. The President of Finland said that there is a need to work together to deal with climate change.
• This tie-up with Finnish companies will focus on improving waste management, recycling plastic waste and discarded fishing nets and strengthening the net repair system through capacity building. The aim of this initiative is also to make the dock efficient and sustainable for fishing.

Sassoon Docks

• Built in 1875, Sassoon Docks is one of the oldest docks in Mumbai and was the first wet dock built in Bombay. It is located in Mumbai Harbour in the South Mumbai area of Colaba.
• It is one of the largest fish markets in the city of Mumbai, many types of fish are available here, including Surmai (Indo-Pacific mackerel), pomfret etc. Around it are the Mumbai Port Trust Garden (Sagar Upvan Colaba) and the offices of the Fisheries Department, and it overlooks an island in Mumbai Harbour, Oyster Rock, at some distance.
• Sassoon Docks was the first commercial wet dock of western India and it helped in starting the cotton trade. In 1879, the government purchased Sassoon Docks and other adjoining coastal properties from the Bombay Port Trust.