DP World has completed the third phase of its US$220 million (€200 million) investment plan, aiming to deliver faster and more environmentally friendly solutions to its customers.
DP World has introduced a new stacking crane module at its terminal in Antwerp, Belgium adding to the array of cranes and equipment commissioned this year, including three quay cranes for ship loading and unloading, six automatic stacking cranes, and nine hybrid straddle carriers.
This infrastructure enhancement is part of a comprehensive six-year plan dedicated to the modernisation, decarbonisation, and expansion of the Antwerp Gateway Terminal, located in the Deurganckdok area within the Port of Antwerp.
Anticipated benefits include the capacity to reach almost 1 million additional containers on the same surface area by 2026, utilising 100% green energy and emission-reducing technology.
Customers utilising DP World’s facilities in Antwerp will gain from the implementation of modern and resilient infrastructure, contributing to increased operational speed and sustainability. The green investment and improvement plan, backed by the European Union, is set to continue in the coming year under the leadership of the incoming CEO of DP World Antwerp, Nawaf Abdulla.
Looking ahead, the plan includes the arrival of two ZPMC cranes from Changxing, China, to the port of Antwerp in the summer of 2024. This addition will bring the total number of quay cranes on the DP World quay at Deurganckdock to 15.
Moreover, 24 additional automatic stacking cranes will be introduced, with the construction of eight scheduled for the upcoming year.
These strategic investments complement the terminal’s recent initiatives to enhance efficiency and security, such as the introduction of a dedicated app for truck drivers and the integration of fingerprint scanning technology for streamlined container collection processes.
“DP World continuously invests in the most advanced technologies and equipment. As an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider, we want to strengthen Antwerp Gateway’s competitive position by converting the terminal in a sustainable way and make it ready for the future with extra capacity and services for our customers,” stated Nawaf Abdulla, who will assume the role of CEO at DP World in Antwerp following the retirement of Dirk Van den Bosch.