The global port operator, DP World has announced a major step forward for the capability of its Southampton terminal with the completion of the crane rail extension, which will allow the world’s largest cranes to service the full length of the quay.
Part of DP World’s £40 million (US$55 million) investment this year in Britain’s second largest container terminal, the 120 metres crane rail extension has foundations reaching 26 metres below the ground and took 16 weeks to build.
According to a statement, it will facilitate the movement along the quay of some of the terminal’s 12 Liebherr cranes which stand up to 130 metres high, with flexibility being the highest priority for the equipment.
"The new configuration is designed to maximise utilisation and will save customers’ time by speeding up quayside loading and unloading," said DP World.
Together with the granting of permission for a third berth to be dredged down to a depth of more than 15 metres, and the addition of a second empty containers park scheduled for September, the investment will upgrade Southampton.
"The completion of the crane rail extension builds on the progress already made this year with the opening of a new Border Control Post and the dredging and widening work on a number of berths," commented Ernst Schulze, Chief Executive of DP World in the UK. "Our next step – a £3 million (US$4.1 million) investment in the redevelopment of the yard for the storage and delivery of customers’ empty containers - will increase capacity by 25% and create even more flexibility and resilience for our customers.”
