DP World boosts capacity at London Gateway and Southampton with new quay cranes, enhancing efficiency for the UK's container trade.
DP World, operator of two of Britain's busiest container terminals, is boosting container-handling capacity at London Gateway and Southampton with the arrival of a new generation of quay cranes designed to serve the world's largest vessels.
Two cranes have arrived fully assembled at London Gateway after a sea journey from Shanghai. Each crane stands nearly 150 metres high and weighs more than 2,000 tonnes. The cranes will be installed at the new all-electric Berth 5, currently under construction as part of DP World's GBP1 billion expansion of the Thames-side terminal. The berth is scheduled to become operational in 2027.
Two more cranes are expected to arrive at Southampton next week. They follow the delivery of two cranes to the terminal in June, bringing the total number of quay cranes serving Southampton to 16.
The four cranes delivered to Southampton during 2026 represent an investment of GBP60 million. The new equipment can perform consecutive tandem lifts, handling two 40-foot containers simultaneously, and is designed to serve container ships with capacities of around 24,000 TEU.
For cargo owners and the logistics partners who move their freight, greater lift productivity and berths built for ultra-large vessels translate into faster vessel turnaround, more reliable transit schedules, and steadier capacity through seasonal demand peaks - all factors that help protect goods in transit and keep delivery commitments on track.
Another two cranes are scheduled to be delivered to London Gateway's Berth 5 in the coming months.
"At both of our fantastic UK port operations at Southampton and London Gateway, we are increasing capacity, improving efficiency for our customers, and ensuring two of Britain's most important gateways to global trade are equipped for the future," said Kris Adams, CEO UK Ports & Terminals, DP World.
The London Gateway expansion includes two new all-electric berths, increasing the total number of operational berths to six, alongside a second rail terminal. The additional rail capacity offers importers and freight forwarders expanded options for moving containers inland, supporting cost-efficient, lower-emission routing beyond the quayside.
The investment builds on a year of record throughput. DP World said its London Gateway and Southampton terminals together handled more than 5 million TEU in 2025. London Gateway alone handled a record 3 million TEU, a 50% increase on the previous year. The company said the two terminals now account for 46% of the UK's containerised trade.
Taken together, the new cranes, electric berths, and expanded rail connections position DP World's UK terminals to handle rising volumes with greater efficiency, reinforcing their role as critical gateways for the shippers, forwarders, and importers that depend on them.
