DP World Southampton container terminal is set to bolster the UK's trading infrastructure with a £60m ($75.5m) investment in state-of-the-art quay cranes.
The investment includes an order for four new quay cranes, which will be capable of moving two 40ft containers simultaneously, reducing the time required to load and unload large container vessels.
These new additions will be capable of performing quad lifts, an advancement in container handling technology, and are expected to improve the efficiency of operations at the terminal.
Scheduled to arrive by mid-2026, the cranes will weigh over 2,000t and will stand taller than Big Ben.
Designed to service the largest ships currently in operation, including 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) megaships, these cranes will have an operational lifespan of around 25 years.
DP World ports and terminals commercial vice president Aart Hille Ris Lambers said: “Our order for these new large quay cranes comes at a crucial time for DP World Southampton. We are continually innovating and investing to enhance our operations to give our customers, who operate the world’s largest container vessels, a smooth and efficient service.
“As our productivity and handling rates at Southampton continue to grow year-on-year, and we develop our nationwide end-to-end supply chain network, we’re always looking for ways to improve our infrastructure and our offer to customers, while serving the national interest.”
The announcement of this investment follows the recent 'Productivity Improvement Award' received by the terminal from the global shipping company ONE (Ocean Network Express), in recognition of its efforts to increase handling rates from 2022 to 2023.
Earlier this month, DP World begun a $140m berth expansion at Ecuador's Port of Posorja, boosting job creation.
