heading for the Island for a surprise visit at an exceptionally busy time.

The ships, all more than 300 feet long, were not scheduled to stop at Bermuda.

Their arrival this weekend has thrown Marine and Ports officers into a panic, admitted deputy director Mr. Russell Southern.

"We seem to be getting more and more of these,'' he said. "It couldn't be at a worse time, because we'll be in the middle of the Newport-Bermuda Race and also we have a full cruise ship programme.

"We're going to have to scatter them all over the place.'' Mr. Southern said he had asked the US Navy if some of the tall ships could use its mooring buoys in St George's Harbour, as one solution to the overcrowding problem.

The vessels -- all sail training ships -- are on their way from Puerto Rico to New York for the Columbus anniversary celebrations there next month. They are carrying one-third crew and two-thirds young trainees from various European nations.

The five comprise the Russian ships Mir and Kruzenstern , the Italian Amerigo Vespucci , the German Alexander Von Humboldt and the Norwegian Christian Radich .

Their arrival will be staggered, starting on Saturday, with the last getting here on Monday. Mr. Southern said he hoped the Italian ship, one of the first to get here, could be docked at Front Street until the cruiser Westward arrived. The final ship will leave next Thursday.

"It's very unexpected,'' he added. "They didn't intend to come to Bermuda originally but they thought they would like to come and see the Island.''