His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the global terminal operator DP World visited DP World Southampton yesterday following the terminal setting another productivity record for vessel handling operations – further demonstrating DP World Southampton’s commitment to excellent customer service.
During his visit, HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem met managers and staff and made a presentation to representatives of the terminal’s ‘A’ Team who recently set a new individual crane record of 565 boxes in a 12 hour shift. This was on the OOCL Long Beach which worked at 176 moves per hour during the 12 hour shift.
Overall, vessel productivity increased by 20% in 2011 and quay crane rates have continued to improve further in 2012.
For shipping lines, who rely on quick turnarounds when in port, this means that Southampton can now consistently turn vessels around faster allowing vessels to save on fuel costs.
During his visit, HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem also saw how the terminal’s landside operations lead the UK industry through improved technology and smarter labour processes. Trucks (which average 1.6 containers) are handled on average in under 30 minutes providing importers and exporters with a consistent and reliable service when shipping through the port of Southampton.
The DP World Chairman was also shown how the upgraded rail network from Southampton provides shippers with much greater choice as to how they can transport their goods through Southampton. The percentage of inland boxes transported by rail has increased from 30% to 36% and the close cooperation between DP World Southampton and its rail operators has resulted in a very efficient and reliable service for cargo moving by rail.
HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World , said: “ Southampton is a model example of productivity improvements. The great strides it has made to meet customer needs and provide an efficient and reliable inland service and greater choice for our customers has set a new benchmark in the UK container industry .”
Chris Lewis, Managing Director, DP World Southampton , said: “ We have an excellent workforce in Southampton and we all understand the pivotal role we play in international trade and the supply chain. Our aim is to make the transition of goods through our terminal as efficient and seamless as possible .”
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Dredging Today Staff, February 28, 2012; Image: dpworldsouthampton