DP World has announced a £170 million ($227 million) investment in advanced container handling technology at its London Gateway logistics hub.
According to DP World, the move marks a significant milestone in the digitalisation and automation of port operations.
The centrepiece of this investment is the Empty Superstack, a system designed to transform how empty containers are handled. Using High Bay Storage (HBS) technology, it can store 20- and 40-foot containers up to 16 tiers high within a fully enclosed, automated facility.
This setup promises major improvements in yard capacity, safety, and efficiency, operating much like “a giant vending machine for containers.”
Developed by BOXBAY, a joint venture between DP World and Germany’s SMS group, the system employs fully electric stacker cranes to retrieve and deliver containers automatically for onward transport.
Its modular design integrates smoothly into existing terminal operations, requiring no changes to landside or seaside interfaces.
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By removing empty containers from the automated stacking crane (ASC) yard, the technology reduces rehandling and housekeeping tasks, enhancing overall terminal performance and enabling faster truck turnaround times.
Set for installation at London Gateway’s all-electric Berth 4, the BOXBAY Empty Superstack will have capacity for up to 27,000 TEU.
The project, expected to take just over two years, is anticipated to deliver significant benefits in safety, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.
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Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “BOXBAY technology represents a leap forward in how ports manage container storage. It is scalable, automated and sustainable. By bringing this ingenious design to London Gateway, we are introducing advanced technology that will unlock faster throughput and contribute to higher safety standards.”
The BOXBAY system has already demonstrated its capabilities following extensive trials at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, where nearly 500,000 TEU were handled using the technology.
Earlier this year, DP World received clearance for a £1 billion project to expand London Gateway, making it the UK’s largest container port.
