Bunker and shipping operations are on high alert as gale force winds are expected to hit Miami in the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm Fay struck Cuba over the weekend, leaving a trail of destruction as areas were hit by flash floods.

As the storm continues to pick up momentum with winds of over 100 kph, the US Coast Guard warns that shipping could be affected in the port of Miami, Port Everglades, Palm Beach, Fort Pierce and Miami River.

"All marine interests must take early and substantial action to ensure safety of the port and vessels." the US Coast Guard said in a statement today.

Ports in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have moved to hurricane conditions and the Coast Guard has ordered all ships out of Port Everglades by 5 p.m. (EDT).  No ships are being allowed to arrive in the port.

Mariners are being reminded by the Coast Guard that there are no safe havens in Florida and the port is safest when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum.

"For planning purposes, all oceangoing vessel and barges over 500 gross tonnes will be required to depart the Port of Miami and head out to sea when Hurricane Condition YANKEE (sustained gale force winds that are predicted within the next 24-hours) is set.  Inland vessels and barges over 500 gross tonnes are required to seek safe refuge in a port outside the Port of Miami," advised the US Coastguard.

Vessel movement will be restricted and allowed only on a case-by-case basis by approval of the Captain of the Port.

All vessels expecting to conduct cargo operations during Condition YANKEE are being asked to submit a Cargo Operations Plan to terminal owners for approval.  All ship-to-shore operations must be completed six hours prior to the setting of Port Condition ZULU (a danger condition in which hurricane force winds are possible within 12 hours), added the Coast Guard report.

Drawbridges in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Miami River within Miami-Dade County are expected to be locked in the down position by 3 p.m. today.  Drawbridges in the ICW and the New River within Broward County are expected to be locked in the down position by 4 p.m. today.  Once locked, the bridges will not be opened until bridge crews are able to return after the storm passes.

US forecasters have warned that Cuba could expect 30 cm of rain in places.

Fay is the sixth tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.  Two of the tropical storms so far, Bertha and Dolly, have reached hurricane strength - with winds of at least 115 kph.

Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center have predicted that the early season activity, combined with current atmospheric and oceanic conditions across the Atlantic Basin, may result in an above-average hurricane season.

Experts believe the season will bring a up to 18 named storms, of which seven to 10 are expected to become hurricanes, and three to six of those are expected to be major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.