Global logistics giant DP World is pressing ahead with a £1bn ($1.3bn) expansion of its main London port and plans to make it Britain’s largest container hub within five years.
The Dubai-based port giant will increase the capacity of London Gateway’s port by building two new shipping berths, meaning six berths will be able to receive the world’s largest container ships.
The announcement comes days after comments by a UK government minister sparked a major political row and sparked fears that DP World might postpone the project.
The port and logistics conglomerate owns P&O Ferries, which was called a “cowboy operator” earlier last week by UK transport secretary Louise Haigh, a reference to its firing and rehiring of 800 staff two years ago.
However, DP World said today its investment scheme will create a further 400 permanent new jobs, in addition to the 1,200 currently employed at the site, as part of a rapid growth plan for the Thames Estuary hub.
The expansion will take the total invested by DP World at London Gateway to more than £3bn, converting the site of a former oil refinery into one of the UK’s largest and most important logistics hubs.
The site has recently seen the addition of a £350m fourth berth, the first to be powered entirely by electricity, and which will soon accept its first ship.
Committed to UK
DP World chief executive Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said the project underlines the company’s long-term commitment to the UK.
He said the port project “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”.
A report that DP World had delayed the announcement earlier on Friday in response to the UK ministers’ comments had set off political recriminations in the government.
It had been suggested that the DP World boss would not attend a major international investment summit, backed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in London today.
DP World employs 5,500 workers across a wide portfolio of logistics services in the UK.
Besides owning London Gateway, it also operates Southampton’s container terminal and several European logistics, forwarding and transport services.
Subject to planning approval and regulatory requirements, the expansion of the London Gateway port is expected to significantly increase the volume of trade at the site, which currently handles about 2m teu annually.
