MSC Vancouver
DP World London Gateway takes ships unable to call at other UK ports
6th March 2014, London: DP World London Gateway is aiding supply chain reliability as it takes ad hoc vessel calls while other UK ports face closures and congestion during bad weather.
Ten vessels have made diversionary calls to London Gateway since Christmas as weather conditions impact other ports’ landside, waterside and rail terminal operations while London Gateway has remained open throughout.
Dean Hawkridge, Head of International Supply Chain at B&Q, said: “Importers order stock months in advance with an expected date for goods to be on the shelf. It is difficult to predict if and when weather issues may cause delays, but the impact can generate problems along supply chains, with back logs taking days to clear after a port’s operations are halted.”
“DP World London Gateway’s ability to continue operating when other ports have stopped operations is welcome news as shippers are seeking reliability for deliveries to go as planned.”
Two 40ft containers on tandem
In a further boost to efficiency in UK supply chains, DP World London Gateway has become the first UK port to use a quad lift system on its quay cranes, which can pick up four twenty foot containers in a single lift. The system is also capable of a tandem lift of two forty foot containers, effectively doubling the number of containers that can be unloaded from a ship at a time.
In addition to the existing weekly call by the Southern Africa Europe Container Service, Hamburg-Sud and Hapag Lloyd have recently announced the transfer of services to London Gateway in May, to include services to and from South America East Coast, South America West Coast and India, Pakistan and Middle East.
Maersk Sealand Eagle
About London Gateway
Opened Q4 2013, DP World London Gateway is the UK’s first 21st Century major deep-sea container port and Europe’s largest logistics park. Owned and operated by DP World and situated on the north bank of the River Thames, London Gateway provides unrivalled deep-sea shipping access to the largest consumer markets in the UK. The port’s location, with its superior operational systems and service, ensure ships load and unload as fast as possible, making London Gateway a world class asset for the UK.
About DP World
DP World has a portfolio of more than 65 marine terminals across six continents(1), including new developments underway in India, Africa, Europe, South America and the Middle East.
Container handling is the company’s core business and generates more than three quarters of its revenue. In 2013, DP World handled 55 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units). With its committed pipeline of developments and expansions, capacity is expected to rise to more than 100 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand.
DP World has a dedicated, experienced and professional team of 28, 000 people serving its customers around the world, and the company constantly invests in terminal infrastructure, facilities and people to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them.
In taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted “Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 19 consecutive years.
www.dpworld.com
(1) As of February 2014.
