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Solent Stevedores set to expand London container handling

[ June 22, 2020   //   ]

Stevedoring company, Solent Stevedores, has started work on expanding its empty container handling facility at DP World London Gateway.

Solent Stevedores first opened its five-acre facility at London Gateway in 2016. The expansion will increase the site’s capacity by 82% to 4,300teu and will be fully operational by the end of 2020.

The empty container yard, located on berth 7 of London Gateway Port, provides services such as empty container and reefer storage; maintenance and repair; and shunting. The container yard is at Berth 7, outside of the terminal’s ISPS perimeter and adjacent to the port main gate.

It has been running at capacity for some time and additional shipping services calling at the port and increased requirements from existing and new clients has made expansion imperative.

Solent Stevedores operations director, Ian Jacobs, , Solent Stevedores, said: “We are thrilled to be embarking on this depot expansion project with DP World London Gateway, particularly at this time. The commitment made by Solent Stevedores further demonstrates the significance we place on the long-term strategic importance of London Gateway and the ever-expanding range of services offered.

“It has been evident for some time that we needed to expand our footprint further to meet the growing business needs of our clients and we very much look forward to welcoming them into our new facility at the end of the year.”

DP World’s head of commercial – UK ports, James Leeson, added: “In the four years since Solent Stevedores opened at DP World London Gateway, volumes handled at the port have consistently grown and this has opened opportunities to our customers based within the port. Having recently welcomed the world’s largest container ship, HMM Algeciras, and with our diverse mix of trade routes adding to the port’s resilience, I am confident that the expansion of the Solent Stevedores facility will help attract more business to DP World London Gateway.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured left to right (Front) Stuart Cullen, executive chairman, Solent Stevedores; Ernst Schulze, chief executive officer, DP World UK. (Back) James Leeson, head of commercial – UK ports, DP World UK; Ian Jacobs, operations director, Solent Stevedores; Andrew Bowen, port operations director, DP World London Gateway.

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