DP World expands crane capacity at London Gateway and Southampton

DP World is expanding container handling capacity at its UK terminals through the deployment of new quay cranes at London Gateway and Southampton. Two massive cranes, each weighing over 2,000 tonnes and standing nearly 150 metres high, arrived fully assembled at London Gateway from Shanghai. These will be installed at the new all-electric Berth 5, part of a £1 billion expansion project scheduled to become operational in 2027.

At Southampton, an additional two cranes are expected to arrive next week. This follows a June delivery, bringing the total number of quay cranes at the Southampton terminal to 16. The four cranes delivered to Southampton in 2026 represent a £60 million investment. The equipment is designed to handle 24,000 TEU megaships and can perform tandem lifts of two 40-foot containers simultaneously.

According to company reports, the London Gateway and Southampton terminals handled over 5 million TEU in 2025. Combined, these operations now account for 46% of the UK’s containerised trade. The London Gateway site alone supports approximately 10,500 jobs and contributes nearly £800 million to the UK GDP.