News / Gulf box hubs eye an automated future as ships get bigger and labour costs rise

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Container terminal operator DP World is drawing up plans to handle the next generation of box ships at its flagship Jebel Ali facility, it was hinted at this week’s TOC Container Supply Chain event in Dubai.

In a keynote speech to delegates, DP World senior vice-president and managing director of the UAE region Mohammed Al Muallem said the only way to handle ever-larger ships efficiently was to invest in automated handling equipment. He said the recent order for 18,400teu vessels by ...