Global logistics leader DP World has announced a £1-billion expansion of London Gateway, set to establish it as Britain’s largest container port within five years.
The investment will fund the construction of two additional shipping berths, bringing the port’s capacity to six berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest container vessels.
Additionally, a second rail terminal will be constructed to support the anticipated growth in containerized trade.
By the end of the decade, London Gateway’s expanded quayside—spanning over 2.5 km—will be equipped to handle six vessels simultaneously, each over 400 meters long, using Europe’s tallest quay cranes, which will stand as high as Big Ben.
With this latest development, DP World’s total investment at London Gateway will exceed £3 billion, transforming the site of a former oil refinery into one of the UK’s most critical logistics hubs, said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World.
The expansion follows the recent addition of a £350 million fourth berth at London Gateway, the first berth at the port powered entirely by electricity and set to receive its first ship soon.
Ernst Schulze, CEO for Ports and Terminals at DP World UK, highlighted that London Gateway’s strategic location and infrastructure make it ideal for expansion.
With regulatory approvals, the port’s new capacity is expected to substantially increase trade volume, which currently stands at nearly two million TEUs annually.
