DP World confirms £1bn two berth London Gateway expansion

Global logistics company DP World has announced a £1 bn expansion of London Gateway, aiming to make it the UK’s largest container port within five years.

The expansion will involve building two new shipping berths capable of receiving the world’s largest container ships, bringing the total number of berths to six.

Additionally, a second rail terminal will be added to accommodate the expected growth in containerised trade.

Once complete, the quayside will extend over 2.5km, allowing six vessels each over 400m long to dock simultaneously. The site will also feature Europe’s tallest quay cranes.

The project, which has been a driver of economic regeneration in south Essex since its opening in 2013, is expected to create 400 new permanent jobs, supplementing the 1,200 people already employed at the site.

The expansion will bring DP World's total investment at London Gateway to over £3 bn, transforming the former oil refinery into a nationally critical logistics hub.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO of DP World, said, “I am proud of this major investment which underlines DP World’s long-term commitment to the UK.  DP World London Gateway will help make Britain’s trade flow in the future by connecting domestic exporters with global markets and delivering vital supply chain resilience for the whole economy.

Ernst Schulze, CEO for Ports & Terminals at DP World UK, added, “As this commitment demonstrates, London Gateway’s location and transport infrastructure are ideally placed for expansion. With extra capacity comes the reliability and supply chain resilience so important to our customers and consumers.”