DP World is strengthening the UK’s maritime infrastructure with four new quay cranes for London Gateway and Southampton, supporting larger container vessels and growing trade volumes.
Announced on 1 October 2026, the expansion includes two cranes that have arrived at London Gateway, with another pair scheduled for Southampton. Each crane stands nearly 150 metres high and weighs more than 2,000 tonnes. Designed to lift two 40-foot containers in a single tandem operation, they can serve vessels carrying up to 24,000 TEU.
At London Gateway, the cranes will serve the new all-electric Berth 5, part of a £1 billion expansion expected to become operational in 2027. At Southampton, four new cranes arriving during 2026 represent a £60 million investment, taking the terminal’s fleet to 16 quay cranes.
The timing reflects growing demand: London Gateway handled more than 3 million TEU in 2025, while Southampton exceeded 2 million TEU. Combined, DP World’s two UK terminals handled more than 5 million TEU that year.
The maritime impact: More capable cranes can improve vessel-handling productivity, support faster port calls and help terminals accommodate increasingly large container ships. However, the full benefit will also depend on berth availability, yard capacity, rail connections and landside freight movement.
For UK trade, the investment is more than a crane upgrade. It is part of a wider effort to expand port capacity and strengthen connections between global shipping routes and domestic supply chains.
Sources: DP World’s official announcement
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