DP World has received two new quay cranes at its Southampton container terminal as part of a £60 million investment to increase handling capacity.
The cranes arrived fully constructed by sea and are expected to be offloaded directly onto the Southampton container terminal quayside early next week.
Each crane weighs more than 2,000 tonnes and stands nearly 150 metres high. DP World said the equipment will be able to service the largest container ships currently in operation, including 24,000 TEU vessels, as well as larger ships that may be developed in future.
The arrival marks the first of two crane deliveries planned for Southampton this year. A second pair is due to arrive later in 2026, bringing the total number of cranes serving the port to 16.
READ: DP World Southampton invests £60 million in new quay cranes
The new cranes are capable of consecutive tandem lifts, allowing two 40-foot containers to be handled at once. DP World said the equipment will support greater efficiency and productivity at the terminal, improve reliability for customers and help reduce vessel turnaround times.
Kris Adams, DP World CEO UK Ports & Terminals, said: “Trade powers the UK’s growth and prosperity, and today’s arrival of two fantastic new quay cranes is a landmark moment for Southampton and for our long-standing operation in this vital port.
“DP World’s investment is equipping our terminal here in this major trading city for the future, ensuring we can handle the next generation of large container vessels, boosting our capacity and efficiency. Upgraded infrastructure at Southampton will allow us to better serve customers across the UK and strengthen our terminal’s contribution to the national economy.”
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Satvir Kaur MP, Member of Parliament for Southampton Test, said: “Southampton has a proud maritime history, and our port continues to play a vital role in supporting local jobs, trade and economic growth across the city and beyond. This significant investment by DP World demonstrates confidence in the port’s future and will help strengthen Southampton’s position as one of the UK’s most important trading gateways.”
Southampton is the UK’s third-largest container port and has connections to Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
In 2025, DP World Southampton handled more than 2 million TEUs, one of the terminal’s highest annual throughput figures. DP World’s UK container total exceeded 5 million TEUs in a national market handling more than 9 million TEUs.
For more information:
DP World – https://www.dpworld.com/en
