DP World has received two of Europe's largest quay cranes at Southampton in a GBP60 million (US$79.3 million) investment aimed at boosting capacity for larger ships and higher trade volumes, reported Saint Petersburg's PortNews.

The fully assembled cranes arrived by sea on 19 June and will be discharged directly onto the terminal quayside early next week. Each crane weighs more than 2,000 tonnes and stands nearly 150 metres high, making them over 50 metres taller than Big Ben.

These cranes are the first of two pairs scheduled for delivery in 2026, with a second pair expected later this year. Once installed, Southampton will have a total of 16 cranes serving the port.

Capable of handling the largest container ships in operation, including 24,000-TEU vessels, the cranes can perform tandem lifts of two 40ft containers simultaneously. DP World stated that this investment will enhance efficiency, reliability, and vessel turnaround times.

Southampton is the UK's third-largest container port, with connections to Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. The terminal handled more than two million TEU in 2025, contributing to DP World's UK total of over five million TEU in a national market exceeding nine million TEU.