Southampton: ABP named Europe's most productive container port

ABP’s (Associated British Ports') Port of Southampton has been ranked the most productive port in Europe and the number one-performing container terminal in the UK, according to an independent industry study. 

Based on confidential data charting more than 100,000 port calls at 400 ports during 2012, the analysis from the Journal of Commerce (JOC) put Southampton's productivity performance among a global elite.

The findings place Southampton at 20th in the world for productivity, the only port in Europe to feature in the top 20, with an average of 71 container moves per hour. This compares to 49 container moves per hour at the UK’s other major container port at Felixstowe.

The ranking comes as the terminal in Southampton, operated by DP World Southampton, is just over halfway into a four-year improvement programme, using a teamwork approach and new technology to drive performance to new heights. The terminal now operates at rates up to 177 moves per hour on the ultra large container vessels.

The terminal is also the subject of a £150 million expansion project designed to ensure it can continue to handle the biggest ships in the world long into the future. As well as an extensive dredging programme, the project sees the construction of a new 500m quay and the installation of four new cranes. The development is on course to open in January 2014.

ABP port director for Southampton Doug Morrison said: "While it is fantastic to be recognised as the best in Europe, this is just the beginning for Southampton.

"We have put performance and productivity at the very heart of our operation and we are all committed to driving our service to the next level. I think it is this commitment that gives us the edge.

"We believe our performance is the key to retaining our existing business and, already this year, this approach has seen us successful in winning new business.

"There's been a huge amount of capital investment and hard work from the team here. We are all extremely proud of the reputation for customer service we have built but no one here is under any illusions that we can afford to rest on our laurels."