DP World has announced plans for a £1 billion ($1.3 billion) expansion of London Gateway Port, aiming to make it the UK’s largest container port within the next five years. The project will see two new shipping berths built, bringing the total to six, capable of handling the world’s largest container ships. A second rail yard will also be created to handle the expected growth in container traffic.
By the end of the decade, the new 2.5km-long berth will be able to handle six vessels over 400 metres in length at any one time and will feature the tallest cranes in Europe, according to DP World. The expansion will create an additional 400 permanent jobs, adding to the existing 1,200, and will be a major step in the economic development of the region.
DP World’s total investment in London Gateway will exceed £3 billion (around US$4 billion), transforming the former oil refinery into one of the UK’s largest logistics hubs, handling around 2 million TEUs per year. The site also includes Europe’s largest logistics park, employing 1,500 people and providing storage, warehousing and distribution services, as well as links to rail and road routes.