DP World is investing £170 million in state-of-the-art container handling technology at its London Gateway logistics hub. The project will be a key step in the digitalization and automation of port operations, delivering significant efficiency and environmental benefits to the terminal.
A key element of the modernization will be the Empty Superstack system, developed jointly with the German company SMS group through the BOXBAY joint venture. The new technology is based on the High Bay Storage (HBS) principle and will allow empty containers to be stored up to 16 layers high in a fully automated, enclosed facility. Electric cranes will automatically load and retrieve containers, significantly increasing capacity, reducing maneuvering, and speeding up vehicle handling.
The system will be installed at the new all-electric Berth 4 berth and will be able to simultaneously store up to 27,000 TEUs. The project is expected to be completed in just over two years. Through these innovations, DP World expects to improve the terminal’s safety, productivity and sustainability, cementing London Gateway’s position as one of Europe’s most technologically advanced ports.