East Coast ports prepare for Isabel

East Coast ports prepare for Isabel    Ports along the U.S. Atlantic Coast were in preparation Tuesday for the coming of Hurricane Isabel, a Category 2 storm.
   The National Hurricane Center early Tuesday said its forecast track anticipated Isabel's center striking North Carolina's Pamlico South ' about 45 miles north of Morehead City, and 120 miles east of Raleigh ' at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday, then turning north, slightly inland of Chesapeake Bay.
   'Interests from the Carolinas northward to southern New England ' along the coast and inland ' should monitor the progress of Isabel,' the hurricane center said.
   The North Carolina State Ports Authority said late Monday its ports in Wilmington and Morehead City were on full hurricane alert.
   'We are working closely with our own employees and customers, and with the U.S. Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and state and local emergency management authorities as well,' said Erik Stromberg, chief executive officer of the ports authority.
   The port authority anticipated the Coast Guard would close the Cape Fear River in Wilmington to vessel traffic Tuesday night and navigational channels at Morehead City this morning. When gale-force winds are within 12-hours — expected to occur tonight — the port authority will close its gates and activities at the terminals will be limited to preparing for the storm's arrival.
   At the Port of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday set hurricane condition “Whiskey,” prior to Isabel's expected arrival.
   Emergency plans include creating a safety zone for commercial vessels and barges of more than 500 gross tons.
   Gale-force winds are anticipated if the hurricane makes landfall along the coast of New Jersey, the Coast Guard said in an advisory.