Ports along Florida's east coast are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Frances.

Port Canaveral ordered all vessels to evacuate the harbor by 10 a.m. Friday. The Port Canaveral Port Authority administrative office will be closed today and tomorrow, with a scheduled re-opening of Sept. 7. The agency said that date could change depending on the severity of the storm.

The evacuation of the Canaveral Harbor must be completed and all vessels out no later than 10 a.m. Friday, at which time the harbor will be closed.

The CPA said port tenants should follow Broward County evacuation orders.

About 48 hours away from a possible Florida landfall, forecasters have issued a hurricane watch for more than 300 miles of the coast and said the watch was likely to be upgraded to a warning sometime this morning.

Port Everglades said road access to Spangler Blvd. is expected to remain open until approximately noon on Friday. The Eisenhower Blvd. (17th Street) and Eller Drive (I-595) gates will close today at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively, and will remain close until further notice.

The Port Everglades administration offices will be closed with the exception of essential operations and security personnel Thursday and Friday, and on Sept. 6 for the Labor Day holiday.

The Coast Guard said all oceangoing vessels greater than 500 gross tons must depart the port at least 24 hours prior to the hurricane landfall, expected at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday.

Andrea Muniz, spokesperson for the Port of Miami, says that storm plans will be completed after 2 p.m. today, but at this time, containers stacks have been lowered and the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Co. and APM Terminals have informed the port that they will be closed Friday.

Storm watchers said Frances is two to three times larger than Hurricane Charley, both Category 4 storms packing heavy rain and winds of 131-155 mph. Charley hit the Gulf Coast of Florida Aug. 13, killing 25 people.

Forecasters said Frances could bring five to 10 inches of rain, and warned of storm surge flooding of six to 14 feet above normal.

-- with contributions from Rick Eyerdam, Florida Shipper