
Image Credit: “MSC SENA container ship,” available at Yahoo Images (11/11/2024).
DP World’s London Gateway has proudly unveiled the world’s first all-electric berth, a groundbreaking achievement marked by the arrival of the MSC Sena. This significant milestone in the port’s expansion and modernization efforts saw the 2,800 TEU container ship being serviced by a fully electric fleet, including quay cranes, straddle carriers, and automatic stacking cranes, all designed to operate at the new 430-meter-long berth. The successful inaugural use of the new facility was marked by MSC Sena's departure from the port on November 8, heading to Copenhagen.
The new all-electric berth, known as Berth Four, not only increases London Gateway’s capacity by more than a third but also brings a ray of hope with the creation of 200 permanent jobs at the port. This addition is expected to significantly improve the port’s reliability, reduce vessel turnaround times, and enhance operational efficiency, further solidifying London Gateway’s position as a leading hub for global trade.
Building on this success, DP World announced plans last month to invest £1 billion in developing two additional berths, Berths Five and Six. These new berths will be equipped with the latest technology and infrastructure, similar to the all-electric Berth Four, and are expected to further increase London Gateway's capacity and efficiency. This investment is a key part of a broader strategy aimed at making London Gateway the UK’s busiest container port within the next five years, overtaking Felixstowe, the current leader.
Ernst Schulze, CEO for Ports & Terminals at DP World in the UK, emphasized the importance of this development for the company’s future in the UK. “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,” Schulze said. “We have already invested more than £2 billion in building our modern and efficient facility at London Gateway over the last decade, connecting the UK with global supply chains and export markets.”
Schulze also underscored the dual focus of the investment: “This new berth, alongside our £1 billion investment in the fifth and sixth berths, will further enable us to service the largest vessels in operation today, as well as the future megaships currently under construction. More importantly, it supports our broader goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.”
The new berth is strategically positioned alongside the London Gateway Logistics Park, where half of the park’s total warehousing capacity of 9.25 million square feet has already been developed. This integration of port and logistics facilities is key to providing end-to-end supply chain solutions that meet the needs of customers navigating an increasingly dynamic global trading environment.
Schulze concluded, “At London Gateway and across our UK operations, we are quickly building a unique array of assets and supply chain capabilities that help our customers stay competitive while serving the national interest.”
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