Two STS cranes from ZPMC are on their way to DP World Southampton, enhancing capacity and efficiency at the terminal.
Two fully assembled STS cranes built by ZPMC are en route from China to DP World's Southampton terminal aboard the heavy-load vessel Zhen Hua 28, reported Rotterdam's Project Cargo Journal.
The cranes form part of a GBP60 million (US$79.4 million) investment announced last year, which includes four STS units. DP World stated that the new cranes will match or exceed the capacity of Europe's largest quay cranes. The units are delivered fully assembled.
Designed to handle the world's biggest container ships, the cranes promise faster turnaround times and smoother cargo flows. They have a safe working load of 65 tonnes and an outreach of 72 metres. DP World indicated that they will be capable of quad lifts, moving two 40-foot containers simultaneously, with an operational lifespan of 25 years.
The first two cranes are scheduled to arrive at Southampton at the end of May, with the remaining two expected in August. Southampton is one of two deep-water ports operated by DP World in the UK, alongside London Gateway.
The Southampton terminal covers nearly 100 hectares and features 14 STS cranes along a 1.92 km deep-water quay, with depths of up to 16 metres, accommodating vessels up to 430 metres in length.
DP World reported that its Southampton terminal handled more than two million TEU in 2025, while London Gateway surpassed three million TEU, boosted by a new berth and calls from Gemini Cooperation's Asia-Europe routes. The three million TEU milestone marked growth of more than 52 percent from 2024, taking DP World's UK container total to over half of the national nine million TEU market.
