DP World

DP World is a large port and terminal operator with headquarters in the Middle East and operations that span the globe. Port operations like those conducted by DP World are dangerous and put workers at risk every day. An accident can lead to the injuries and deaths of workers, who have rights under maritime law and may seek compensation.

About DP World

DP’s main focus is handling containers; in 2015, it handled 61.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The company operates 77 terminals and includes 50 related support businesses. Operations are conducted in 40 countries and on six continents. DP World’s staff is also global, with 37,000 employees hailing from 110 different countries.

History of DP World

DP World’s history has humble beginnings. In 1972, it began with a single port, Port Rashid, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

• The company wouldn’t open its next port until 1979 with Jebel Ali, also in Dubai. By 1991 these two original DP ports would be combined to create the more extensive Dubai Ports Authority.
• Since then, the company has added numerous ports and terminals to its list of operations, ranging from ports in Saudi Arabia to Romania to India and others on six continents.
• DP World has also expanded its reach and operations through acquisitions. These have included CSX Terminals and The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). The acquisitions not only helped DP become a global leader in container handling but also helped the company reach more locations and gain footholds in North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Africa.
• There were some hiccups along the way for DP, including the controversy surrounding its acquisition of P&O in 2006. This purchase led to the transfer of ownership of several U.S. ports to DP, a company based in the United Arab Emirates. Leaders in the U.S. were concerned about security issues.
• The deal was ok’d, but members of Congress put the brakes on it, and eventually, DP sold P&O’s operations in the U.S. to American International Group.

DP World Operations

The primary operations of DP World are owning and operating ports and terminals around the world and handling containers and other types of cargo.

DP operates in several ports in India, China, and other Southeast Asian areas, Canada, Brazil, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, West Africa, and the Middle East. The company also has several other terminals in development.

In addition to DP’s main focus on terminal operations, the company has a fleet of maritime vessels and other businesses:

• The fleet includes ice breakers, tug boats, and river barges, all used to improve the transportation of cargo.
• The part of the business that operates cranes is called World Crane Services and offers inspection, maintenance, and repair of terminal cranes.
• DP also provides stevedore services and intermodal transportation for cargo.

Terminal and Port Dangers

In operating in terminals and ports, DP World is a maritime company that faces the risk of accidents that can hurt or kill workers. These workers face the dangers of lifting heavy cargo, working in an environment with many moving equipment and vehicles, and working on and off ships over water and at heights.

Like other companies, DP is responsible for taking all reasonable measures to protect workers from the risks of port work.

DP World strives to make its workplaces safe through vessel inspections, safety drills, and technological innovations. As an example of the latter, DP World developed a device that would make stacks of containers more stable and less prone to tipping or toppling over. The device uses lasers to guide the containers as cranes move and stack them.

DP has also tried to reduce accidents in the busy waterways of its ports by introducing a tracking system that closely follows vessels as they move in and out of ports.

The technology was introduced in the port of Jebel Ali, where 2,200 vessels move through the water each month. This congestion can lead to accidents, but more accurate tracking of them will hopefully prevent collisions.

DP World Accidents

Despite safety measures, DP has experienced accidents in its ports, some of which have hurt or killed workers.

Fallen Container in Australia

One of these occurred in 2019 at DP’s Port Botany in Australia. The accident occurred when wire ropes on a terminal crane slipped. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. 

Investigations determined that a contractor hired to replace the ropes did not do it correctly. The contractor was used because of worker strikes in the port.

Fire in Vancouver Port

In 2015, a fire broke out in a stack of containers at DP’s Port of Vancouver, but luckily, no one was hurt.

A flammable chemical in one of the containers likely triggered the fire. Workers in ports are surrounded by dangerous materials and fire, but exposure to this hazardous chemical could cause harm.

Terminal Fall in the UK

A worker suffered severe injuries in a terminal fall at DP World Southampton in the United Kingdom in 2024. The worker fell ten meters from a straddle carrier and landed on a concrete floor. 

He fell through a hole in the carrier made by contractors working to replace a glass floor. He suffered multiple fractures, including to the skull, back, pelvis, arm, and ankle.

The UK’s Health and Safety Executive found that DP World failed to provide a safe work environment and fined the company £1 million ($1.27 million).

Longshoremen and Workers’ Rights

Longshoremen work in ports and terminals, including those owned by DP World. They carry cargo on and off ships, operate cranes, drive vehicles that move cargo, and provide other services.

These workers are vulnerable to accidents and to being hurt or killed on the job. Even a minor mistake can end up causing a tragic accident, and all workers could potentially be the victim of it.

Workers have rights, though, in the maritime industry, and one of those is to seek compensation after an accident. If you have been injured on the job as a port worker, you can seek compensation to help cover your medical bills, lost earnings, and other expenses related to being hurt. An important law that applies to port workers is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. 

Make sure you talk to a maritime lawyer to learn your rights and what to do after an accident.