Key Points
- DP World has welcomed four of Europe’s largest quay cranes to its UK operations at London Gateway and Southampton, as part of its continuing investment in port capacity and UK trade infrastructure.
- The first two cranes arrived fully assembled at London Gateway on 25 September 2026, following a sea journey from Shanghai. Each weighs more than 2,000 tonnes and stands nearly 150 metres tall.
- The London Gateway cranes will be installed at Berth 5, an all-electric berth under construction as part of DP World’s £1 billion expansion of the port. Berth 5 is expected to become operational in 2027.
- A second pair of cranes is due at DP World Southampton, following the arrival of two new cranes in June. The four Southampton cranes represent a £60 million investment and will bring the terminal’s total number of cranes to 16.
- The cranes can perform consecutive “tandem lifts” involving two 40ft containers at once and are designed to handle the largest container ships currently operating, including vessels of up to 24,000 TEU.
- DP World’s new DP World Effect report says London Gateway and its logistics park support 10,500 UK jobs and £799 million in UK GDP, while London Gateway and Southampton together handle 46% of UK containerised trade.
- In 2025, DP World’s London Gateway and Southampton terminals handled more than 5 million TEU, while London Gateway alone handled a record 3 million TEU, a 50% increase from the previous year.
- Kris Adams, DP World CEO UK Ports & Terminals, said the investment is intended to increase capacity and efficiency at two important UK gateways to global trade.
- Satvir Kaur MP, James McMurdock MP and Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive of the Port of London Authority, also commented on the investment and its implications for trade, employment, port expansion and electric infrastructure.
DP World has expanded its UK port infrastructure programme with the arrival of four of Europe’s largest quay cranes at London Gateway and Southampton, combining new handling capacity with a £1 billion London Gateway expansion and a £60 million Southampton investment. The equipment is being introduced as the operator prepares its terminals to handle larger container vessels and growing trade volumes, while new electric infrastructure forms part of the development at London Gateway.
What has DP World announced about the new quay cranes?
As reported by Danny Longhorn of RailBusinessDaily, DP World has welcomed four of Europe’s largest quay cranes to its UK ports as part of its continuing investment in capacity and infrastructure. Longhorn reported that the first pair arrived fully assembled at London Gateway on Friday 25 September after travelling from Shanghai by sea.
The cranes are substantial pieces of port equipment. According to India Shipping News, the two London Gateway cranes each weigh more than 2,000 tonnes and stand nearly 150 metres high. Their height places them above prominent London landmarks including the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral.
The arrival is part of a wider equipment programme across DP World’s two UK container terminals. The first pair is destined for London Gateway, while the second pair is scheduled for Southampton.
DP World said the investment is designed to expand capacity and support the growth of UK trade. The company’s own 1 October announcement described the cranes as an infrastructure investment intended to ensure that both terminals can accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships.
Where will the new cranes be installed at London Gateway?
The first two cranes will be installed at Berth 5 at London Gateway, which is currently under construction.
According to DP World, Berth 5 forms part of a £1 billion expansion programme at London Gateway. The berth is being developed as an all-electric facility and is scheduled to become operational in 2027. A further two cranes are expected to be delivered for Berth 5 in the coming months.
The development forms part of a larger expansion of London Gateway’s container-handling infrastructure. DP World said the wider programme includes two new all-electric berths, taking the total number of operational berths to six, alongside the development of a second rail terminal.
London Gateway has become an increasingly important part of DP World’s UK port network. The company reported that the terminal handled a record 3 million TEU in 2025, representing a 50% increase compared with the previous year.
DP World expects the wider London Gateway expansion to support the terminal’s growth over the remainder of the decade. The company said the development is expected to make London Gateway Britain’s largest container port before the end of the decade.
What is happening with the cranes at Southampton?
The second pair of cranes is due to arrive at DP World Southampton, following the delivery of two new cranes in June 2026.
As reported by India Shipping News, the additional pair will bring the number of cranes servicing Southampton to 16. The four cranes delivered to Southampton during 2026 represent a total investment of £60 million.
DP World had previously announced the £60 million order for four cranes in February 2025. The company said at the time that the cranes would be the largest quay cranes in Europe and would be capable of moving two 40ft containers together in a single operation.
DP World also described Southampton as one of the UK’s major container ports. The terminal provides connections to markets in Asia, the Middle East and the Americas and serves British businesses involved in international trade.
The new equipment is therefore being introduced alongside continued growth in container traffic and vessel sizes. The cranes are designed to work with vessels carrying up to 24,000 TEU, placing the investment directly alongside the development of ultra-large container shipping capacity.
How will the new quay cranes handle large container ships?
The cranes are designed to increase the speed and capacity of container-handling operations.
According to DP World, the new equipment can conduct consecutive tandem lifts, allowing two 40ft containers to be handled simultaneously. This capability is intended to improve the ability of both terminals to handle large container vessels efficiently.
The equipment can service the largest container ships currently in operation, including 24,000-TEU megaships. That capacity is significant because the size of vessels operating on major international routes has increased, requiring ports to invest in equipment capable of handling larger calls.
The investment also links port infrastructure with wider Logistics and Supply Chain operations, where vessel turnaround, terminal capacity, rail connections and cargo movement are interconnected elements of the movement of goods into and out of the UK.
DP World’s earlier Southampton announcement said the cranes have an expected operational lifespan of approximately 25 years, representing a long-term addition to the terminal’s infrastructure rather than a short-term equipment upgrade.
What does DP World say about the economic contribution of London Gateway?
The crane announcement coincided with the publication of DP World’s DP World Effect report, which examines the economic contribution of London Gateway and its logistics park.
According to the report figures published by DP World and reproduced by India Shipping News, London Gateway supports £799 million in UK GDP and provides or supports 10,500 jobs in the wider economy.
DP World also said that its combined London Gateway and Southampton operations now handle 46% of UK containerised trade.
These figures provide additional context for the crane investment because the equipment is being added to facilities that already handle a substantial proportion of the UK’s container traffic.
In 2025, DP World said its London Gateway and Southampton terminals handled more than 5 million TEU, compared with more than 10 million TEU across the UK as a whole. London Gateway alone handled 3 million TEU during the year.
What did Kris Adams say about the investment?
Kris Adams, DP World CEO UK Ports & Terminals, said the investment reflects the importance of infrastructure to the UK’s international trade network.
Adams said the company was increasing capacity and improving efficiency at Southampton and London Gateway, describing the two facilities as important gateways for global trade.
His comments place the crane programme within DP World’s broader UK investment strategy rather than treating the deliveries as standalone equipment purchases.
The expansion also involves major infrastructure construction, including new berths and rail facilities at London Gateway. That means the deployment of the cranes is being coordinated with wider changes to terminal capacity and inland freight connections.
What did Satvir Kaur say about the Southampton investment?
Satvir Kaur MP, who represents Southampton Test, commented on the arrival of the second pair of cranes at Southampton.
As reported by Danny Longhorn of RailBusinessDaily, Kaur said the investment would strengthen Southampton’s position as a major centre of international trade. She also linked the additional cranes with the terminal’s ability to handle modern container ships, support exports and maintain access to international markets.
Her comments were specifically focused on the local and regional implications of the investment, including employment and the role of Southampton in international trade.
What did James McMurdock say about London Gateway?
James McMurdock MP, representing South Basildon and East Thurrock, also commented on the London Gateway development.
According to the statement carried by India Shipping News and RailBusinessDaily, McMurdock described the investment in two new cranes as significant for the port and said increased freight-handling capacity could create opportunities for local employment and economic activity.
McMurdock also referred to the investment as an important stage in the completion of Berth 5 and said he looked forward to working with DP World on opportunities for residents in the area.
These remarks concern the local economic dimension of the London Gateway expansion rather than changing the underlying commercial details of DP World’s investment programme.
What did Robin Mortimer say about the electric cranes?
Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive of the Port of London Authority, highlighted the electric nature of the London Gateway cranes.
Mortimer said the arrival of the two electric cranes indicated growth at the Port of London and linked the expansion of Berth 5 with additional capacity for trade and investment on the tidal Thames. He also pointed to the electric equipment in relation to the Port of London Authority’s ambition to achieve net zero.
The electric specification is particularly relevant because Berth 5 is being developed as an all-electric berth. The cranes therefore form part of a wider infrastructure approach in which cargo-handling equipment and terminal operations are being designed around electrification.
How important are London Gateway and Southampton to UK container trade?
DP World operates both London Gateway and Southampton as major UK container terminals.
According to the company, Southampton is the UK’s third-largest container port, with connections to Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. London Gateway is described by DP World as one of the UK’s fastest-growing container ports.
The two terminals together handled more than 5 million TEU in 2025, accounting for close to half of the more than 10 million TEU handled across UK ports during that period.
For businesses involved in importing and exporting goods, port infrastructure forms part of the wider supply chain linking ships, terminals, road freight, rail services, warehouses and distribution networks. As these operations become larger and more technologically advanced, professional knowledge spanning Shipping, Maritime and Ports and Logistics and Supply Chain can be relevant to the management of modern freight infrastructure.
What is planned next for DP World’s UK ports?
The latest crane deliveries are not the end of DP World’s UK infrastructure programme.
At London Gateway, DP World has said further cranes are scheduled for delivery to Berth 5 in the coming months. The berth itself is due to become operational in 2027. The wider £1 billion expansion is planned to include two additional all-electric berths, bringing the site to six operational berths, as well as a second rail terminal.
At Southampton, the arrival of the second pair will complete the four-crane investment announced by DP World, taking the terminal’s total number of cranes to 16. The equipment is designed to support the handling of very large container ships and higher trade volumes.
The developments demonstrate how DP World is expanding both physical capacity and cargo-handling technology at two established UK terminals. The investment combines larger ship-handling capability, additional berth capacity, electric equipment and expanded rail infrastructure.
For professionals working across port operations, freight movement and international trade, these developments also illustrate the increasing interaction between Shipping, Maritime and Ports, Logistics and Supply Chain, Project Management, and Quality and Productivity disciplines.
What does the crane investment mean for UK port infrastructure?
The arrival of the four cranes represents a concrete investment in the equipment used to move containers between large vessels and port facilities.
At London Gateway, the cranes are connected to the £1 billion expansion and the development of the all-electric Berth 5. At Southampton, the four-crane programme represents £60 million of investment and will increase the number of cranes servicing the terminal to 16.
The investment comes against the background of increasing container volumes at DP World’s UK facilities. The company’s reported 2025 figures show more than 5 million TEU handled across London Gateway and Southampton, with London Gateway recording 3 million TEU alone.
The immediate focus is therefore on expanding and modernising the infrastructure required to handle container traffic. The longer-term effect will depend on the completion and operation of the new berths, rail infrastructure and cranes, as well as future demand from shipping lines and UK importers and exporters.
As the UK continues to rely on international maritime connections for the movement of goods, the expansion of major terminals such as London Gateway and Southampton places greater emphasis on specialist knowledge in Shipping, Maritime and Ports, particularly around terminal operations, cargo handling, port infrastructure and the wider supply chain.