• ABP Southampton’s expert marine operations team enabled the safe arrival of the Europe’s tallest quay cranes at DP World Southampton today, demonstrating advanced pilotage, tug coordination and vessel escort in a highly complex port environment.
• Specialist planning and early-morning execution ensured a controlled transit of oversized crane cargo exceeding 160 metres in width, minimising disruption while maintaining safety in one of the UK’s busiest deep-sea ports.
• The new cranes further strengthen the Port of Southampton’s role as a leading global gateway, enabling faster vessel turnaround and more efficient UK trade flows.

Associated British Ports  has welcomed the first arrival of new huge quay cranes at DP World’s container terminal at the Port of Southampton. Enabled by the ABP Southampton Marine team’s painstaking preparation and operational excellence, the arrival of the new cranes, the tallest in Europe, mark a significant further step in enhancing the port’s capability as a leading global gateway for UK trade.

ABP has played a critical role in safely enabling the delivery of these cranes through the port’s complex marine environment. Due to their exceptional size, the cranes extend significantly beyond the transport vessel, creating a transit width of more than 160 metres. To manage this safely, ABP has coordinated a carefully controlled operation involving dedicated pilotage, tug support and vessel escort, alongside temporary restrictions on other ship movements. The delivery has been timed to take place during an early morning window, ensuring the vessel can be safely manoeuvred through the port and alongside the terminal with minimal disruption.

Steve Masters, Harbour Master for ABP Southampton, said: “I’m very proud of the ABP Southampton Marine team and our partners in executing this complex operation. The scale of this delivery required meticulous planning, precise coordination and the expertise of our marine teams to safely navigate a highly complex operation through a busy working port. It demonstrates the strength of ABP’s capability to manage challenging vessel movements and enable major investment in our ports, ensuring Southampton continues to operate safely and efficiently as a world-class gateway for trade.”

ABP owns and operates the Port of Southampton, one of the UK’s most critical deep-sea ports and home to one of the country’s top three global container terminals. The terminal, operated by DP World, handles around 2 million containers annually and connects the UK to markets across every continent.

The introduction of these next-generation cranes will further enhance operational performance, enabling faster vessel turnaround times and supporting growing demand for global trade flows through the port.

Southampton is already recognised as the UK’s number one hub for deep sea trade, capable of accommodating the largest vessels in operation. Its unique location, deep-water access and strong road and rail connections make it a critical link between UK businesses and international markets.

The new cranes will enhance these capabilities further, supporting more efficient cargo handling and reinforcing Southampton’s role in keeping Britain trading.

Working closely with DP World and other partners, ABP continues to invest in port infrastructure to meet rising demand, support supply chain resilience, and enable long-term economic growth.