DP World adds three quay cranes at Jeddah Terminal

DP World has added three new semi-automated quay cranes at its container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia, increasing capacity and enabling more efficient handling of the world’s largest container ships.

The group said that this expansion comes in light of the return of navigational activity to the Red Sea, which enhances the terminal’s ability to maintain a reliable flow of trade in light of the ongoing maritime security challenges.

The new cranes enhance the productivity of the berths and enable the terminal to serve several ships on the main shipping lines simultaneously, with a lifting capacity of 65 tons for each, which supports the Kingdom’s goals as a leading global logistics center.

These cranes, manufactured by Shanghai Xinhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. and currently undergoing trial operation, join the station’s existing fleet, bringing the total number of quay cranes from 14 to 17 cranes, with plans to reach 22 cranes as part of future capacity expansion phases.

DB World’s southern container terminal berths extend over a total length of 2,150 metres, including a deep-water berth with a draft of 18 metres, with a capacity to accommodate up to five giant container ships at the same time. It is equipped with modern handling equipment and advanced automation technologies designed to improve ship turnaround times and operational efficiency.

The addition of these cranes is part of an $800 million modernization program that contributed to raising the terminal’s capacity from 1.8 million to 4 million 20-foot equivalent containers.

This investment paves the way for a total capacity of 5 million 20-foot TEUs, with plans to deploy additional docking equipment in line with the rising growth in demand.

The CEO of DB World – Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al-Sheikh, said that expanding the capacity and enhancing operational flexibility in Jeddah helps the group’s customers transport their goods more efficiently, while enhancing the terminal’s ability to receive major ships and handle growing container sizes.

He added: “In light of the challenges resulting from recent regional developments, we are working closely with port authorities, security partners and shipping customers, to ensure safe and reliable operations to ensure the continued flow of trade across the Red Sea and more distant trade routes.”

In 2025, DB World Jeddah Container Terminal operations recorded the handling of more than 1.3 million 20-foot TEUs, more than double the handling volumes recorded in the previous year, with shipping lines returning to the Red Sea corridor and the number of services increasing to 38 weekly services.

DB World also expanded the scope of shipping services, enhancing connectivity with internal regions and expanding access to integrated supply chain solutions throughout the Kingdom.