Arriving this morning (19 June), Europe’s largest STS cranes have docked at DP World’s Southampton container terminal. The nearly 150m tall pair of cranes arrived fully erected on board ZPMC’s Zhen Hua 28 carrier after a final leg from the Bay of Biscay.
The cranes are the first half of a series of four cranes for Southampton. The cranes are part of a GB£60m investment to boost capacity and future-proof operations at the UK’s third largest container port. When complete, the new additions will bring the fleet up to sixteen units along Southampton’s five deep water berths.
Investment for trade
Operators DP World say the new cranes represent the vanguard of an investment at Southampton. They say the intention is to keep the port competitive and ensure that the south coast of England container terminal can meet growing demand from UK trade. “The £60m investment will boost capacity and future-proof operations at one of the UK’s largest container ports,” the company told WorldCargo News.
The order was first reported by WorldCargo News in February. Each crane weighs more than 2,000t and stands nearly 150m high, not far short of the landmark Spinnaker Tower in neighbouring Portsmouth. In principle, crane operators and tower visitors could see each other’s structures, despite the 15-mile separation.
Tandem lift capability
Arrival in Southampton was delayed by a few hours due to prevailing weather conditions. The accompanying images were taken on arrival late this morning. The cranes can be seen accompanied on board by a fleet of straddle carriers bound for elsewhere (reportedly for the Middle East). A spokesperson for DP World explained that these are the first of two pairs of STS cranes set to arrive in Southampton in 2026. A second pair is due to arrive later this year, bringing the total number of cranes servicing the port to sixteen.
The new cranes will boost handling capacity and volumes at Southampton. DP World say they are capable of serving the largest container ships currently in operation, including 24,000 TEU ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs), as well as even larger vessels not yet built. “[The cranes are] capable of consecutive ‘tandem lifts’ of two 40ft containers at once,” said DP World. “The new quay cranes will support an increase in efficiency and productivity, improved reliability for customers, and help to future-proof operations at the terminal. The investment is also expected to support faster vessel turnaround times and enhance Southampton’s ability to accommodate growing trade volumes.”
Next gen ready
“Trade powers the UK’s growth and prosperity,” said Kris Adams, DP World CEO UK Ports & Terminals. “Today’s arrival of two fantastic new quay cranes is a landmark moment for Southampton and for our long-standing operation in this vital port. For the future, we can handle the next generation of large container vessels, boosting our capacity and efficiency. Upgraded infrastructure at Southampton will allow us to better serve customers across the UK and strengthen our terminal’s contribution to the national economy.”
Shoreside, DP World has also improved its handling capacity of late. Improved gate line and truck management have gone hand in hand with significant rail infrastructure improvement in recent years, carried out by the UK government’s agency, Network Rail. DP World also operates a reward scheme for forwarders who take their inbound containers off the dock by rail.
Highest throughput
Southampton is the UK’s third-largest container port. In 2025, the DP World terminal handled more than two million TEU, one of the highest annual throughput figures in the terminal’s history. Overall, DP World handled more than five million TEU in a national market of over nine million TEU. “Our port continues to play a vital role in supporting local jobs, trade and economic growth across the city and beyond,” said Satvir Kaur MP, the local UK parliamentary representative. “Confidence in the port’s future will help strengthen Southampton’s position as one of the UK’s most important trading gateways.”
The cranes will be offloaded directly onto the terminal quayside early next week. The existing fleet will be reallocated among the five berths. They inherit the mantle of the largest STS cranes from DP World’s other UK operation at London Gateway.