DP World London Gateway plans to move forward with a third berth at the UK’s new deep-sea hub port, which will increase deep-sea access for ships carrying UK imports and exports.
Berth Three will enable the use of an additional 400 meters of quay length with a dredged depth of 17 meters alongside, to handle the largest containerships. New birth will become operational in late 2016. It has also developed technology to ensure the port remains open in bad weather.
The location of the DP World London Gateway Port, which has 16 million consumers within 50 miles, enables imports to enter the UK closer to where the goods will be consumed.
Bringing ships closer to key areas of consumption in the UK, such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, reduces the need to truck goods many miles inland, thereby removing unnecessary supply chain costs.
Decision follows busiest week at Gateway where two of the world’s biggest vessels — Maesrk Edinburgh and Cap San docked simultaneously at the existing two births.
Traffic growth is good news for port which suffered major setback last year when Marks & Spencer decided to cancel a multi-million distribution center that was agreed to be built at the facility’s logistics center.
Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin visited the state-of-the-art port with local members of parliament, to assess the new berth intended to increase deep-sea access for ships carrying UK imports and exports.
Contracts have been awarded to Volker Fitzpatrick for civil and electrical works and four new quay cranes have been ordered from ZPMC.
DP World cice chairman Jamal Majid Bin-Thaniah said: “Since opening, DP World London Gateway has continued to attract more shipping line services and we remain committed to increasing speed and efficiency in supply chains."