British regulatory agencies have given the go-ahead for the building of an US$180 million postpanamax container terminal at the Port of Liverpool that will nearly double its capacity, says owner-operator Peel Ports Group.

Peel Ports plan to create a facility capable of accommodating large containerships and to boost container capacity to nearly 1.5 million TEU. Some 400,000 TEU of east Asian cargo and another 120,000 TEU bound to and from the Indian subcontinent move within 120 kilometres of Liverpool, said a company statement.

"The government decision has particular significance for Asia," said Peel Ports marketing director Frank Robotham. "The port's growing volume of Far East transhipment cargo demonstrates the demand for a direct service between Asia and Liverpool."

China Shipping, Evergreen, CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag Lloyd and Atlantic Container Line, have already responded to shipper demand with regular calls at Liverpool. "They recognise Liverpool as the alternative to the congestion and long-haul transport costs inherent in using south coastal UK ports," Mr Robotham said.

Liverpool's established panamax-capable Royal Seaforth Container Terminal, which recently had an injection of a US$70 million investment, can handle up to 800,000 TEU a year. The new postpanamax terminal, with its 820-metre quay will be capable of simultaneously handling two 7,000-TEU vessels and a container stack of 17 hectares (42 acres), and will have an annual throughput capacity of more than 500,000 TEU, bringing the port's total container facility to nearly 1.5 million TEU.