Productivity reaches new heights at Southampton

DP World Southampton is leading the way on vessel productivity when quay crane rates hit a new high this past weekend.

On Sunday 30 October, 535 boxes were handled by one crane in a 12 hour shift on the vessel OOCL Southampton.

Through a concerted team effort on changes to working agreements, systems and equipment deployment, the South Coast container terminal has seen quay crane rates rise almost 25 % throughout 2011.   Average quay crane rates across all vessels is now significantly improved over historic productivity numbers and places Southampton in a leading position in the UK.

Earlier this year DP World Southampton also set another productivity record on the OOCL Southampton with a total of 176 moves per hour over the total vessel call.

Similar improvements on landside operations have also resulted in Freightliner’s Maritime Terminal recording its highest ever daily throughput at Southampton since records began in 1997.  On Wednesday 14th September, 1164 containers were moved to and from the rail terminal.  This has been achieved as a direct result of the completion of the rail gauge clearance project earlier this year which, across all three rail terminals in Southampton, increased the percentage of inland rail containers moves from 30% to 36%.

Chris Lewis, Managing Director, DP World Southampton, said:

“We have set out to demonstrate to our customers and the industry that Southampton can consistently provide a high quality service.  This is truly a team effort across the terminal and I am delighted that all these efforts are paying off in terms of service delivery to our customers.

Chris added:

“This is just the beginning of a fundamental business process change and I am confident we will rise to the challenge and gain the reputation for being the most productive terminal in the UK providing the best service for its customers.”

Notes to Editors

DP World operates more than 60 terminals across six continents(1), with container handling generating around 80% of its revenue.  In addition, the company currently has 10 new developments and major expansions underway in 10 countries.

DP World aims to enhance customers’ supply chain efficiency by effectively managing container, bulk and other terminal cargo.  Its dedicated, experienced and professional team of nearly 30,000 people serves customers in some of the most dynamic economies in the world.

The company constantly invests in terminal infrastructure, facilities and people, working closely with customers and business partners to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them.

In taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted “Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 17 consecutive years.

In 2010, DP World handled nearly 50 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia. With a pipeline of expansion and development projects in key growth markets, including India, China and the Middle East, capacity is expected to rise to around 95 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand.

www.dpworld.com

As of  September 2011. Includes non-container terminals