With Efficiency Comes New Business Success for Southampton Container Terminals Ltd (SCT)

Southampton Container Terminals Ltd (SCT) has successfully won a further six weekly services to the port, starting in September 2006. The new services linking Southampton to Canada, USA East and West Coast, Mexico, South America and the Mediterranean are SLCS, GAX, PAX, GMX, MedPaC and EEX and will result in a total of 11 European services, operated by Grand Alliance member lines, being handled at the terminal each week.

On the back of this business win, SCT plans to invest circa £15 million in two new quayside gantry cranes and eight new straddle carriers. In addition to this investment will come the creation of further jobs at SCT to accommodate the new services.

Commenting on the good news, Patrick Walters, Managing Director, SCT said:

“We are delighted to see a long established customer such as the Grand Alliance consolidate their business here in Southampton. Everyone involved in the operation at SCT has worked hard in the past 18 months to improve the terminal’s efficiency levels and this move by the Grand Alliance highlights this success. I am confident that we will continue to deliver a high level of performance across all service areas.”

SCT introduced a range of measures to improve efficiency during 2005 with continued improvement during 2006, including a mandatory vehicle booking system which with a new gate process that has lead to consistent sub 30 minute vehicle turn around. Vessel productivity has also significantly improved and capacity increased to 2.0M TEU.

Notes to Editors

DP World Southampton is the UK's second largest container terminal.
In 2007, DP World Southampton handled 1.9 million TEU - a 26% increase compared to 2006 (1.5 million TEU).
DP World is one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world, with 44 terminals and 13 new developments across 28 countries.
In 2007, DP World handled more than 43.3 million TEU across its portfolio - an increase of 18% on 2006.

As at 1 March 2008