Giant Cranes Delivered for UK’s New Logistics Hub

 

Two more of the U.K.’s most technically advanced quay cranes were brought up the River Thames on Wednesday, completing the sea voyage from China on vessel Zhen Hua 10 via the Cape of Good Hope to arrive at DP World London Gateway Port, just 25 miles from Central London.

 

The new cranes are for the third Berth at the DP World London Gateway container terminal, providing additional trade infrastructure for the U.K. when the berth opens later this year. When installed, they will match container terminal’s existing cranes in providing the greatest lift-height above water of any quay cranes in the country.

 

Another two cranes for the third berth are due to arrive in London next week, moving development of the terminal’s third berth onto the next stage.

 

At their highest point, the quay cranes stand at 138 meters tall – the same height as the London Eye. They weigh 2,000 tons and are unloaded from the vessel onto DP World London Gateway’s quay wall using pulleys and winches at high tide. The process of moving these mega-structures safely onto the quay takes 45 minutes.

 

A further 20 automated stacking cranes and additional 10 modules have already been installed, while in April, the port took delivery of a fleet of hybrid shuttle carriers.

 

Once the third berth is open, DP World London Gateway will have 1,250 meters of quay wall, providing three deep-water berths and more ultra-large container vessel capacity than any other port in the U.K.

 

“As an island nation, it is absolutely vital that the UK has world-class port infrastructure to facilitate trade,” said Cameron Thorpe, CEO, DP World London Gateway.

 

“In addition to the eight already in operation here, the arrival of these quay cranes and further investment in supplementary infrastructure such as our fully automated truck handling capability, ensures that the UK is able to efficiently and reliably handle the largest container ships afloat.”

 

“These cranes are unique in the U.K. They are safer, more wind resilient, able to lift more containers in one movement and comfortably reach out across and above the largest container ships,” Thorpe said.