DP World adds 17 electric cranes at Jeddah terminal
The cranes are part of DP World’s US$800 million modernization programme at the South Container Terminal.
SAUDI ARABIA – DP World has deployed 17 new Automated Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes at its South Container Terminal in Jeddah, bringing the terminal’s electric, automated crane fleet to 50 of 77 RTGs, according to a company statement.
The new cranes reduce annual CO2 emissions per unit by about 64% compared with conventional diesel-powered equipment.
Fleet composition and automation capability
The AeRTGs are equipped with automation, intelligent positioning and remote-control capabilities, enabling operators to manage cranes from dedicated control stations.
Fully electric drive systems eliminate direct diesel exhaust emissions during operation and reduce noise.
The terminal’s fleet now comprises 77 RTG cranes, of which 50 are electric and automated.
Mohammad Alshaikh, CEO of DP World KSA, said: “Our continued investment in Jeddah is focused on delivering a more efficient, reliable and competitive terminal for our customers. By combining automation and electrification, we are strengthening our ability to handle growing trade volumes while reducing the environmental impact of our operations.”
Modernization programme and capacity targets
The cranes are part of DP World’s US$800 million modernization programme at the South Container Terminal, which includes infrastructure upgrades, expanded yard capacity and plans to increase annual handling capacity from 3.9 million to 5 million TEUs.
The electrification milestone matters commercially for two reasons. First, electric RTGs reduce per-move energy costs compared with diesel, lowering the terminal’s operating expenditure as throughput increases.
Second, automated yard equipment improves container-positioning accuracy, reducing rehandling, a major hidden cost in terminals operating near capacity.
The South Container Terminal handled more than 221,200 TEUs in July 2026, its highest monthly throughput since DP World began operating the facility in 1999.
In addition, export volumes reached 79,720 TEUs that month, also a terminal record. First-half throughput rose by nearly 79% year on year, with 390 vessel calls.
The terminal also received the Morten Maersk in September 2026, a 399-metre vessel carrying more than 19,000 TEUs, on Gemini Cooperation’s AE15 service linking Jeddah with Qingdao, Kwangyang, Ningbo, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Said and Damietta.
For shipping lines calling at Jeddah, the electrification programme signals that DP World is investing in yard productivity rather than solely in berth capacity, a distinction that matters when terminal congestion, rather than quay availability, constrains vessel turnaround times.
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