PLANS to build a giant container ship terminal in Liverpool may have to be scrapped because of new environmental guidelines designed to protect Merseyside’s coast line.

Liverpool Bay was made into the marine equivalent of a national park by the Government last month.

But it means permission to build the terminal, which could involve dredging deeper shipping channels and a surge in the number and size of vessels coming into Liverpool, may be refused.

Last night, Peel Ports, which is behind the plans to build the post-Panamax facility, insisted it would work with the Government and other agencies to try to hammer out a compromise that will allow the scheme to go ahead.

It wants the city to be able to handle the world’s biggest container ships, built to fit down the new, wider Panama Canal, which is due to open in 2014.

Plans to build huge windfarms in the Irish Sea may also have to be altered because of the new designation. Developing Merseyside into a “superport” and a hub for the low carbon economy have been identified as crucial economic drivers for the future.

The region’s inward investment agency, The Mersey Partnership, has labelled both as “transformational sectors” potentially capable of boosting the city region’s coffers.

Failing to get the post-Panamax facility or the know-how of building wind farms would be a massive blow to the region.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs announced that a 170,200-hectare area of Liverpool Bay would be made a Special Protection Area (SPA) in August.

It hopes making it an SPA will protect “internationally important” colonies of both the red-throated diver and the common scoter.

The UK must protect rare or vulnerable species of birds, under EU laws set out in the European Bird Directive.