Steel piling has started at the site of Liverpool2, marking the start of a new phase of the deep water terminal's construction.

Building began on the £300 million terminal - owned by the Peel Ports Group - in June this year and is still on track for a completion target of 2015.

This phase will see the drilling of sockets to fit 329 piles of tubular steel, forming supports for the terminal, situated in the River Mersey. In total over 19,000 tonnes of steelwork will be used to construct a wall 854 m in length and 30 m in height, in addition to 30,000 sq m of concentrate.

Once completed, two vessels carrying as much as 13,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (teu) can dock along the quay wall. Currently, a lock system restricts ships of over 4,500 teu, limiting the Port of Liverpool's capacity.

Chief executive of the Peel Ports Group Mark Whitworth said: "Our investment in Liverpool2 will enable deep sea vessels to call directly at the most centrally positioned port in the UK, allowing shippers to access a market of over 35 million consumers within 150 miles."  

He highlights the Manchester Ship Canal as a feeder service between the two cities.