A strike launched yesterday by roughly 45,000 port-workers in the United States will not interrupt imports to the island, the Ministry of National Security said.

The International Longshoremen’s Association ordered the walkout at US ports on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico over a dispute between dock-workers and shippers and port operators.

The ministry said that it was “closely” monitoring the strike, which stood to have “significant repercussions within the US and internationally”.

Contingency plans were said to be in place to maintain “the steady flow of goods to Bermuda”.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Acting Minister of National Security, said: "We understand the concerns this situation may raise among our residents.

“I want to reassure everyone that our shipping partners have proactively adjusted their operations to ensure minimal disruption to the import of goods to Bermuda.”

Shipping companies have put in place alternatives to navigate the strike.

Bermuda Container Line, which operates the container ship Oleander out of Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, is working with local agencies to route goods through unaffected ports such as Salem, New Jersey.

Meanwhile, the Oleander will remain at anchor off the New Jersey coast until the end of the strike.

Bermuda International Shipping Ltd, which operates the Bermuda Islander, has confirmed its capacity to handle all cargo from northern regions.

The ministry said that while there could be “concerns about container equipment if the strike extends beyond a week”, the company plans to maintain weekly arrivals every Thursday.

Shipping services via Container Ship Management Ltd from Florida ports are unaffected, with scheduled shipments continuing as usual.

The importation of vehicles will not be affected, because car carriers pass through the Panama Canal.

Importers on the island were said to have boosted their stocks, and wholesalers have non-perishable goods stocked for six to eight weeks, along with perishables for one to two weeks.

Sufficient shipping containers are available to transport dry and frozen goods.

Colonel Burch said: "We are determined to support our shipping partners in any way necessary to keep our supply lines open.

“Our wholesalers and importers have shown exemplary preparedness, and we are confident in their ability to meet the island's needs during this period.”

A further supply-chain meeting, with an assessment of the strike and co-ordination of agencies involved, is scheduled for next week.

Updates are expected as more information becomes available.

The Government called on the public to “remain calm and trust the measures being taken to safeguard Bermuda's interests”.