UK operator Peel Ports is lining up a £250m ($395m) investment to handle post-panamax boxships on the Mersey.
The Port of Liverpool owner has appointed Douglas Coleman as project director for the new terminal at Seaforth.
Coleman, 56, had the same role at Forth Ports for six years where he headed the development of the £1bn masterplan for Leith Docks.
Liverpool aims to exploit the trend towards bigger ships allowed by the widening of the Panama Canal.