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New mega cranes 'keeping port in the premier league'

Sophie LawSouth of England
BBC Two of the huge new cranes in situ on the quay at DP World at Southampton Docks. The front crane has just been unloaded from a boat being held in place by a tug boat. BBC
The fourth and final crane (front) being unloaded at Southampton Quay

A £60m investment has seen four of Europe's biggest quay cranes delivered to Southampton docks.

The cranes each weigh more than 2,000 tonnes and stand nearly 150m high, making them among the tallest in the world.

Port operator DP World said their ability to do tandem lifts, unloading twice as many heavy 40ft containers at once, meant productivity would increase "quite significantly" once all four were operational.

UK Chief Operating Officer Andrew Bowen said: "That's what we need here in order to be able to handle the biggest ships in the world."

DP World said between Southampton and its London Gateway site it handled 46% of UK containerised trade, which totalled more than five million containers in 2025.

Bowen said: "It's about making sure the Southampton container terminal stays in the premier league.

"Ships are getting bigger and bigger and to handle them you need bigger equipment."

DP World's UK Chief Operating Officer Andrew Bowen - wearing a hard hat and hi vis vest - in front of one of the new mega cranes at the quayside
DP World's UK Chief Operating Officer Andrew Bowen says it's an exciting time

After weeks at sea on a journey from Shanghai, the final crane was unloaded on Thursday.

MP for Southampton Test Satvir Kaur said the cranes and container ships were familiar to those who lived in the city.

She said: "It's part of our identity - £80bn of UK trade goes through this port which is absolutely incredible.

"This £60m of further investment means even more opportunities, more jobs for local young people. It's something to be proud of."

Local MP for Southampton Test, Satvir Kaur, on the quayside wearing a hard hat and hi vis vest, with cranes in the background
Southampton Test MP Satvir Kaur has praised the investment

Steven Phillips has worked at the docks for 30 years, but said it was hard not to find working on such tall cranes exciting.

"You just get used to the heights after a certain amount of years, but these new cranes are certainly much higher than the older ones," he said.

"The ships are forever getting bigger... and the cost of the cargo they're carrying is immense, so a lot of money and a lot of things can go right or wrong.

"When the crane is operational it can move and rock, in the windy conditions - it can be really sketchy at times."

Crane operator Steven Phillips smiles at the camera in front of a blue sky and shipping containers. He's got a grey beard and is wearing a hard hat and hi vis jacket.
Crane operator Steven Phillips has worked at the docks for 30 years

Terminal operator Jason Parker was due to retire this year after more than three decades, but has stayed on specially for the new arrivals.

"It's big toys for boys, being able to throw it around," he said.

"They look menacing but they're not, they're like gentle giants. I just like the power of the crane and lifting boxes, always have done."

Once all four of the new cranes are working, they will give DP World the capability to unload ships that can carry more than 24,000 containers each.

A wider expansion of the port costing £1bm is due to become operational in 2027.

Crane operator Jason Parker smiles at the camera in front of a blue sky and shipping containers. He's wearing dark sunglasses, a hard hat and hi vis jacket.
Terminal operator Jason Parker postponed his retirement to work on the cranes