Failure to sufficiently secure Bermuda's ports by July 1 could result in a ban on all shipping in and out of the Island.

But civil servants are confident that the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) standards will be comfortably met, and the harsh ban avoided, claiming that Bermuda is "very much on track".

An official from the Transport Security division of the Department of Trade in Britain visited the Island at the end of last year to inspect Bermuda's ports and a report, understood to be almost completed, is expected soon.

Assuming the report ratifies Bermuda's upgrades of its ports, a process that has been ongoing since the hijacking by the Palestine Liberation Front in the Eastern Mediterranean in October 1985, the Island's marine authorities can relax ahead of the July 1 IMO deadline.

The IMO ? United Nations' specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships ? issued a veiled threat earlier this month after inspections found a number of other countries appeared to be heading to miss the deadline.

"Given that the purpose of the new measures is to protect shipping against terrorist attacks," stated the IMO press release, "the information received gives rise to grave concern also from the point of view of the serious repercussions to ships, shipping companies, port facilities and international shipborne trade if the situation does not improve by July and parties concerned are found not in compliance with the measures."

But civil servants involved in the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) guidelines are confident Bermuda is on track to retain its global role in the shipping market.

"We are happy that we have the necessary facilities in place to adhere to the ISPS requirements," said Martin Law, Coordinator of Security Services.

" We have had a Port Security Committee in place for a number of years and have been working hard on this issue.

"A number of measures had to be brought in following the incident and September 11 also pushed security to the forefront.

"The overall aim is to know exactly who is on board and what is on board every vessel at all times and to ensure the security of passengers and cargo."

Rick Ferraro, a senior member of the Lloyd's Shipping Registry, visited Bermuda last week to brief 60 civil servants, politicians and other stakeholders in the shipping industry of the implications of the ISPS requirements and to ensure that security was at the forefront of everyone's mind.

Director of Marine and Ports Barry Coupland told : "All ports globally who are signatories of the IMO who have not achieved full compliance with the prescriptions of ISPS will not be allowed any ships to enter.

"This is the serious warning but I am confident that Bermuda will be able to comply with that.

"We await a report from the UK Government on this at the moment."

Under the code there are three levels of security with ports remaining at level one, but having to raise themselves to two or three depending on the threat level of any ship entering the area.

Deputy Governor Nick Carter added: "I'm confident that Bermuda has taken the necessary steps to fulfil the requirements of the IMO and I feel that the Island will be ready come July 1."