An Industry & Informational Update

London Gateway Port

We are pleased to give you some very exciting news. We have confirmation that after a decade of planning and construction, the DP World London Gateway Deep-water Container Port will open for business on the 4th quarter of this year in the United Kingdom. This is a World-Class Deep-Water Container Port which has been built at Thurrock in Essex where the Shellhaven Terminal once stood. 

This is one of a new breed of super ports based on the world class Jebel Ali port blue print. The new port should not be adversely affected by extreme weather or bad winds as it is not in an exposed position, which can cause closures at other UK ports. Many of its cranes will be fully automated running on electrified rails and forecast to operate 364 days a year. Fourteen miles of the Thames has been dredged to create a marine super highway to allow access for the next generation of supersized container vessels, which are 400 meters long, carrying up to 18,000 TEUs (20' containers).

No expense was spared with world class ship-to-shore gantry cranes already installed that are taller than the London Eye (135 m)! These cranes can move four containers at one time and will bring greater efficiency to the supply chain. Once landed, the containers will be positioned by automatic stacking cranes and delivered to vehicles by a fleet of new two high straddle carriers.

The new port is linked to the rail network with sidings 750 meters long and 30 container trains each carrying 90 TEUs to be used daily to move cargo to inland railheads. This will increase the capabilities of the Port of London in handling a projected 3.5 million TEU a year. It will bring the world's largest ships into the capital which is Europe's largest economic zone. London once again will be globally connected to the major trading ports of the world.

There is a massive 560 acre Logistics Park, the biggest in Europe, being developed on site with new ERTS (Enhanced Remote Transit Shed) or ITSF/ETSF as they are about to be re-named coming on line for LCL Shipments. All in all this will be an amazing Port with vessels having a faster turnaround, minimal weather disruption, superior tidal window and with use of a high level of automation, container movements will be much faster.

At this moment there are a large number of Shipping Lines waiting in the wings to use the port and details will be released beginning next month. "LONDON GATEWAY" will be the new port name shown on Bills of Lading in the future.

We will continue monitoring the situation and to provide the latest available information. If you have any questions, please contact your move manager.