Quad lift system for London Gateway cranes
DP World London Gateway was able to enhance supply chain reliability by taking ad hoc vessel calls while other UK ports faced closures and congestion during extreme winter weather.
Ten vessels made diversionary calls to London Gateway after Christmas as weather conditions impacted other ports’ landside, waterside and rail terminal operations while London Gateway remained open throughout.
Dean Hawkridge, head of international supply chain at B&Q said: “Importers order stock months in advance with an expected date for goods to be on the shelf. It is difficult to predict if and when weather issues may cause delays, but the impact can generate problems along supply chains, with backlogs taking days to clear after a port’s operations are halted.
“DP World London Gateway’s ability to continue operating when other ports have stopped operations is welcome news as shippers are seeking reliability for deliveries to go as planned.”
DP World London Gateway has become the first UK port to use a quad lift system on its quay cranes, which can pick up four twenty foot containers in a single lift. The system is also capable of a tandem lift of two forty foot containers, effectively doubling the number of containers that can be unloaded from a ship at a time.
