Deep water port DP World Southampton is set to be transformed with £40m of infrastructure investment, after receiving Freeport status last month.
Work on the port, which is Britain’s second largest container terminal, will begin this year with the aim of elevating it to a premier international freight and logistics hub.
The investment programme includes the dredging and widening of berths, which was conducted in partnership with Associated British Ports and completed before Easter.
Other works include a £10m investment in a new class of 11 hybrid straddle carriers, which lift containers moved by the quay cranes for onward transport via road and rail and a £3m investment to redevelop the yard for the storage and delivery of customers’ empty containers, which will increase capacity by 25%.
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A £1.5m funding package will see the quay crane rail extended by 120 metres to ensure that the world’s biggest cranes can service the terminal’s berths and to speed up quayside loading and unloading.
A new Border Control Post (BCP), including UK Border Force and port health inspection facilities, will also be set up.
Ernst Schulze, chief executive of DP World UK, said: “DP World Southampton is the most productive port in Britain, turns container trucks around faster than any of its competitors and at 30% also has the highest proportion of its containers moved by rail.
“At DP World we think ahead to create smarter trade solutions and this £40m programme of investment will ensure that our Southampton terminal continues to grow as a major freight and logistics hub.
“Our aim is to partner in our customers’ business success and we are already seeing a surge of interest from companies which want to take advantage of the customs zone and tax benefits resulting from Southampton and London Gateway becoming Freeports."
