DP World has signed a contract with Boxbay, a joint venture between SMS group and DP World, to implement its innovative high-bay storage system. The project is valued at 91.7 million Euro and will be added to the ongoing 1,150 million Euro expansion of DP World’s London Gateway port, aiming to transform it into the UK’s largest container port within the next five years.
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The Boxbay installation will be dedicated to empty container handling, marking a significant milestone in the global transformation of container terminal operations.
“This contract marks a pivotal moment for Boxbay as we transition from concept to real-world application. For the first time we will implement our system specifically for empty containers. We believe this segment holds enormous potential: almost every port in the world deals with empty containers, yet few have efficient solutions for them. Our Empty Superstack system is tailored to solve exactly this challenge – by saving space, cutting operating costs, and enabling full automation. With this project, we are opening a new chapter for terminal design and setting a strong foundation for further growth,” said Christoph Roth, CEO of Boxbay.
In contrast to the conventional six level storage layout, the new Boxbay installation at London Gateway can stack TEUs 16 high and boasts a storage capacity of 27,000 TEUs, fitting 20- or 40-foot containers. The project reinforces DP World’s commitment to reshaping the future of trade through smart logistics solutions. By eliminating the traditional horizontal stacking of containers, Boxbay allows terminals to handle more containers within a smaller footprint, while at the same time reducing truck turnaround times, emissions, and energy consumption.
“Boxbay represents a leap forward in how ports manage container storage. It is scalable, automated and sustainable. By bringing this ingenious design to London Gateway, we are introducing advanced technology that will unlock faster throughput and contribute to higher safety standards,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World.
To ensure optimal space utilisation, the Boxbay installation at London Gateway will feature a ten-aisle Boxbay solution integrating 15 storage and retrieval machines (SRMs) dedicated to handling containers within the high-bay storage system. The HBS is capable of more than 200 container moves per hour on the waterside. The horizontal transfer capacity provides 40 interface positions: 20 landside transfer points for over-the-road (OTR) trucks and 20 waterside transfer points for shuttle carriers.
Ernst Schulze, DP World Ports and Terminals Lead for North Europe, said: “Boxbay changes how our port will run every day. By allowing direct access to any container, like a vending machine, it removes the time and effort needed to reshuffle boxes, cutting turnaround times and reducing emissions. That means more reliability for customers, a safer workplace for our people and extra capacity to meet future demand.”
Boxbay is a joint venture between DP World and SMS group, dedicated to revolutionising container storage and handling through innovative high-bay storage solutions. Boxbay allows containers to be stored in a steel rack, enabling direct access to each container without the need for reshuffling. This not only dramatically improves space utilisation but also boosts operational efficiency and sustainability. What’s more, Boxbay uses only a third of the footprint of traditional yard storage systems.
The Boxbay concept was successfully piloted at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, where it demonstrated its capability to revolutionise container storage and retrieval operations. The expansion to London Gateway underscores the growing demand for Boxbay’s benefits in the wider port industry.