DP World’s expansion of London Gateway is being presented as both a port infrastructure project and a source of wider employment. The company says the port and its logistics park support 10,500 jobs across the UK economy and contribute £799 million to national GDP.
The employment figures come as DP World installs new quay cranes at London Gateway and Southampton. Two cranes have arrived at London Gateway for the new all-electric Berth 5, which is scheduled to open in 2027 as part of a £1 billion expansion. The wider programme includes two additional electric berths and a second rail terminal.
Jobs linked to growing trade capacity
The company expects the expansion to strengthen the site’s role as a gateway for importers, exporters and logistics businesses. More berth capacity can support additional cargo flows and create demand across port operations, warehousing, transport, maintenance and related services. The new cranes are nearly 150 metres high and weigh more than 2,000 tonnes each.
Southampton is also receiving new equipment. Two cranes arrived there in June and another pair is due to follow, taking the terminal’s fleet to 16. The four cranes delivered to Southampton this year represent a £60 million investment. Their ability to lift two 40-foot containers in tandem allows the terminal to handle ships of up to 24,000 TEU.
DP World says London Gateway and Southampton together handle 46% of UK containerised trade. Southampton connects businesses with Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, while London Gateway is expected to become the UK’s largest container port before the end of the decade.
The scale of the projects may create opportunities in port operations, engineering, equipment maintenance, rail-linked logistics and the wider supply chain. No specific recruitment programme has been announced, but the reported employment impact underlines the importance of major gateways to regional and national labour markets.