Chinese manufacturer ZPMC (Zhenhua Port Machinery Company) will supply Corringham-based London Gateway with eight ship to shore container cranes – claimed to be the largest number in a permanent position in the world.

The STS - ship to shore - twin-hoist cranes will have a reach of 70 metres and a tower height of 46.5 metres. ZPMC will also provide railed mounted gantry cranes for the port’s rail terminal. Cargotec is said to be supplying the automated cranes and straddle carriers.

Situated 40 km east of London on the north bank of the River Thames, Corringham’s initial port capacity will be 1.6 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) making it the largest logistics park in Europe. The cranes have been designed to be able to handle the next generation container vessels of 18,000 TEU capacity.

According to Mohammed Sharaf, DP World chief executive, the port will be fully operational for business in the fourth quarter of 2013. “The shipping business declined across the globe in 2008 and 2009, but we have continued to invest in our key markets.”

DP World said the port will create an additional 1,000 new UK jobs in the coming months, part of the 36,000 jobs to be created by the port over the next few years.

“This is an exciting project for Britain and a clear demonstration of confidence in the long term prospects for growth in world trade and in our own economy,” said British Transport Minister Mike Penning.

Projections suggest that $1billion will be spent on the site over the next three years and provide £3.2 billion to the UK economy each year.