DP World has received two of Europe’s largest quay cranes at Southampton, as part of a £60 million investment to expand capacity at one of the UK’s busiest container ports.
Each crane weighs more than 2,000 tonnes and stands nearly 150 metres high. They arrived fully assembled by sea and will be installed at the terminal next week.
The delivery marks the first of two pairs of quay cranes scheduled to arrive in 2026. A second pair will be delivered later this year, increasing the total number of quay cranes at DP World Southampton to 16.
The new cranes can handle the world’s largest 24,000 TEU container ships and are designed to accommodate even larger vessels in the future. They also support consecutive tandem lifts, allowing two 40-foot containers to be handled simultaneously to improve productivity and reduce vessel turnaround times.
Kris Adams, CEO of DP World UK Ports & Terminals, said the investment will strengthen Southampton’s ability to serve growing UK trade by increasing capacity, efficiency and customer service.
Southampton MP Satvir Kaur said the investment reinforces the port’s role in supporting jobs, trade and economic growth.
DP World said the investment forms part of its long-term strategy to enhance Southampton’s role as a key UK trade gateway. In 2025, the terminal handled more than 2 million TEUs, contributing to DP World’s UK total of more than 5 million TEUs.
