THE launch of Queen Mary 2 from Southampton next month could be a major target for terrorists.

A top naval chief has issued the stark warning just weeks before the world's largest passenger ship is due to sail into her home port.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out on the waterfront to see the liner arrive - thought to be on Boxing Day - and again when she is officially launched by the Queen on January 8.

Scores of local dignitaries will be invited on board for a glimpse of QM2 before she sets sail on her first cruise.

But Admiral Sir Alan West, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, warned that a

passenger liner such as the QM2 could be an "extremely attractive terrorist target" during his speech at the annual dinner of the Passenger shipping Association.

He is reported to have said: "ships are getting larger. Think of Queen Mary 2. Somebody saying 'Let's do some damage' would be looking at her." He said the Royal Navy was looking at ways to protect cruise ships from maritime terrorism.

"One of our defence missions is to ensure the security of British civilians worldwide, and cruise ships, these islands of wealth, are extremely attractive terrorist targets.

"These are things that are worrying us and we are putting a lot of effort into it.

"Maritime counter-terrorism is something we are looking at very closely."

The 150,000-ton Queen Mary 2, which can carry 2,620 passengers, is nearing completion at St Nazaire, France, before she makes her maiden voyage to Southampton.

The ship's owners, Cunard, have remained tight-lipped about security arrangements.

Peter Shanks, senior vice-president of Cunard, said: "There is a heightened amount of awareness across the world about security issues, not just specifically the shipping industry."

He said it was not company policy to comment on specific security issues, but insisted the safety of customers and staff was of paramount importance.

Other cruise operators said security was a top concern over the Christmas period.

Southampton City Council leader Adrian Vinson refused to be drawn on whether civic bosses had been made aware of a possible security alert but said that plans were still being drawn up for the arrival of the superliner.