South Florida port closed for Hurricane Wilma

South Florida port closed for Hurricane Wilma    Bracing for Hurricane Wilma, the South Florida ports of Miami, Port Everglades, and Palm Beach closed to all vessel traffic Sunday and were expected to remain closed until at least 7 a.m. Tuesday.
   U.S. Coast Guard port captains Sunday issued the order to establish safety zones around those ports, as well as terminals along the Miami River. The Fort Pierce Indian River Terminal was also shut down.
   The ports were slated to remain closed until storm force winds passed and the Captain of the Port determines it is safe to reopen the ports. Coast Guard officials will need to survey the ports for damage and check the status of waterway navigation aids before authorizing vessel traffic.
   The hurricane was expected to pass through the area by this afternoon.