Operators of Southampton's container terminal have won the Port Company of the Year award for the second year running.

Representatives from DP World were left celebrating after the prestigious 2024  multimodal honours ceremony in Birmingham.

The award was presented following what the company describes as another milestone year for the global logistics business.

It has recently completed the new fourth berth at London Gateway as well as enhancing its "modal shift programme", which aims to increase the number of containers leaving Southampton by train.

DP World is using cash incentives to persuade customers to switch from road to rail, easing congestion and improving air quality.

The eco-friendly scheme, which began last year, could cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 30,000 metric tonnes.

Bosses hope the number of containers leaving by train will rise to almost 40 per cent by the end of 2026.

Speaking earlier this year, John Trenchard, vice president UK commercial & supply chain, said: "At a time when customers face multiple challenges, including escalating geopolitical uncertainty, increased regulatory risk, and the urgent need to decarbonise supply chains, our modal shift programme has proved highly attractive."

ABP has also seen its logistics hubs go diesel-free, with vehicles and equipment switching to hydrotreated vegetable oil.

Ernst Schulze, the company's UK chief executive, said: "DP World is strongly committed to being the most efficient and sustainable logistics company in the UK.

"Winning Port Company of the Year for the second year in a row is testament to the hard work our teams at London Gateway and Southampton have done to make that happen."

Mr Schulze said customers were facing pressure to manage costs, maintain reliability, and improve speed in an uncertain market.

"Our modal shift programme trial in Southampton and the opening of the fourth berth at London Gateway later this year, which will be the world’s first all-electric berth at a port anywhere in the world, couldn’t be better timed.”

DP World has more than 111,000 employees across 77 countries.

A spokesperson said: "DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

"From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade."