London Gateway looks set to become the UK’s largest container port by the end of this decade, following this week’s announcement of a £1 billion expansion.
DP World confirmed plans to create two new berths, expanding the port to six berths, which will increase the port’s capacity and its ability to handle today’s modern megaships.
In the next five years, the quay will extend to more than 1.5 miles long and be able to load or unload six 400m long vessels simultaneously.
The company will be adding a second rail freight terminal to the port and according to a spokesperson, the expansion will create 400 new and permanent jobs.
The announcement was put in jeopardy by a government minister last week, who called for a boycott of DP World subsidiary P&O Ferries.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh also referred to the ferry carrier as a ‘cowboy operator’, following the company’s actions in 2022 when 800 British employees were replaced.
However, PM Keir Starmer subsequently confirmed that her calls for a boycott were “not the view of the government” leading to the announcement going ahead.
