DP World Southampton has purchased six brand new Kalmar straddle carriers in order to strengthen an already successful facility.
The company made the investment following funding from Santander Corporate and Commercial.
By doing so, terminal productivity should increase massively as the straddle carrier fleet grows; providing more machines capable of undertaking twin discharge of shipping containers from beneath its cranes.
A joint-venture between DP World and Associated British Ports, who own 51 percent and 41 percent respectively, DP World Southampton loads and unloads container ships to and from the Far East, Europe, South and North America acting as an interchange point with other forms of intermodal transport.
DP World Southampton’s financial director, Nick Loader said “It is very important that we renew our machinery on a regular basis and that capacity levels are not interrupted. Our terminal operators are highly skilled and work hard to make sure that the competitiveness of Southampton port is retained.”
“We are delighted to have a funding partner in Santander that recognises this and which has been flexible and swift in providing access to finance that will support the long-term running of the operation.”
Hamish MacDonald, Relationship Director for Large Corporates at Santander Corporate and Commercial added “Southampton has become a major global trading gateway with DP World Southampton at the heart of its logistical operation. It is a highly successful business with a strong management team and an impressive client base, and we wish it continued success for the future.”
Since it’s opening, DP World Southampton has gone from strength to strength being voted the number one performing container terminal in Europe’s most productive port, by an independent industry study by the Journal of Commerce.