DP World launches £350 million berth at London Gateway

DP World has marked the operational launch of the world’s first all-electric berth at London Gateway with the arrival of the MSC Sena.

The ship was serviced by an all-electric fleet, including four of Europe’s largest quay cranes, straddle carriers, and automated stacking cranes.

The new 430-metre berth aims to set a global standard in low-carbon shipping infrastructure, enhancing capacity at the port by over a third and boosting supply chain efficiency through improved connectivity and faster turnaround times.

DP World’s aim is to make London Gateway the UK’s largest container port by trading volume within five years.

Ernst Schulze, Chief Executive Officer for Ports & Terminals at DP World in the UK, stated, “The arrival of the first ship at our new all-electric fourth berth is a huge landmark for DP World’s ambitions in the UK.

“We have already invested more than £2 billion ($2.57 billion) in the building of our modern and efficient facility at London Gateway in the last decade, connecting the UK with global supply chains and export markets.

“This new berth, alongside our £1 billion ($1.28 billion) investment in the fifth and sixth berths, will further enable us to service the largest vessels in operation worldwide today, and the larger, future megaships currently under construction, while also advancing our goal to be net-zero by 2050.”

The new berth complements the London Gateway Logistics Park, a 9.25 million square foot facility with multimodal connections across domestic and international transport networks.

Already half developed, this logistics park provides extensive warehousing and enhances DP World’s integrated UK offering, which spans ports in Southampton and London Gateway and logistics, forwarding, and European transport capabilities.

Last month, DP World acquired 47,000 TEUs to enhance its cargo capacity and improve its responsiveness to client demands.