Southampton Docks is to be at the centre of a safety review amid fears that commercial shipping containers could be turned into weapons of mass destruction.

Hundreds of thousands of containers are shipped through the port every year.

Now, just three days before the second anniversary of September 11, a leading European think tank has warned that container ports like Southampton are a major terrorist target.

The report, published today, says increased airport security in the wake of the September 11 attacks has left the sea transportation system wide open to terrorism.

City docks bosses revealed they will have to make substantial changes to procedures to meet new government regulations next year.

Officers from the Department of Transport will visit later this month to give advice on where they can improve.

The Rand Europe research group, which produced the safety report, says sea trade is an ideal target for terrorists because any interruption would have such a serious effect on the global economy.

Analyst Maarten van de Voort said: "The issue of sea-container security is clearly an accident waiting to happen.

"There is a long way to go to raise awareness of the security issues surrounding sea-containers."

The report by the organisation, which carries out research for governments and the European Union, said: "Since September 11, 2001, the awareness of terrorists' actions has clearly risen.

"This increase, however, has not been as substantial in all fields as it has been in the air transport sector.

"Ultimately, this means that the marine sector - and specifically the container transport sector - remains wide open to the terrorist threat."

Approximately 90 per cent of all the world's cargo is shipped in containers, amounting to around 250 million moves annually.

The report said fewer than two per cent of all containers are currently checked to verify what they're carrying.

Consultants also claim that small profit margins mean some ports are reluctant to increase security which might slow down the processing of imports and exports.

Southampton is one of the fastest growing trading centres in Europe and a significant player in the health of the British economy.

The majority of the city's trade is through its container port.

Docks bosses insisted tough new international laws are set to substantially tighten procedures.

Southampton Container Terminals spokesman Derek Smith said International Maritime Organisation regulations, which come into force in July 2004, mean the port will be inspected by the Department of Transport this month.

"We will have to make substantial changes to procedures to meet these regulations," he said.

"They will tell us where they feel we have to improve. This issue is on everyone's mind at the moment."