DP World will invest in new terminal equipment and widen berths to accommodate larger ships as part of a £40 million ($55.4 million) expansion drive at its Southampton container terminal.
DP World Southampton, the UK’s second largest container terminal, will benefit from the investment designed to provide customers with greater service and efficiencies.
Amongst the investment will be the dredging and widening of berths to ensure DP World Southampton can accommodate the world’ largest ships. The project, in association with Associated British Ports (ABP), has already been completed.
Equipment upgrades
A £10 million ($13.8 million) injection in a new class of 11 Kalmar hybrid straddle carriers will transport containers moved by quay cranes and service onward multimodal transport options such as road and rail.
DP World also plans a £3 million ($4.1 million) investment in the redevelopment of the yard for the storage and delivery of customers’ empty containers – increasing capacity by a quarter for port users.
Additionally, a quay crane rail will be extended by 120 metres to ensure that the world’ biggest cranes can be installed at all berths at the terminal in a £1.5 million ($2 million) investment.
Other quay cranes will be relocated or decommissioned in order to maximise utilisation at the port.
Ernst Schulze, CEO of DP World in the UK, said: “DP World Southampton is the most productive port in Britain, turns container trucks around faster than any of its competitors and at 30 per cent also has the highest proportion of its containers moved by rail.”
“At DP World we think ahead to create smarter trade solutions and this £40m programme of investment will ensure that our Southampton terminal continues to grow as a major freight and logistics hub.
“Our aim is to partner in our customers’ business success and we are already seeing a surge of interest from companies which want to take advantage of the customs zone and tax benefits resulting from Southampton and London Gateway becoming Freeports.”