Preparations for Tropical Storm Leslie moved into high gear today in anticipation of what is forecast to be a category two hurricane at its closest to Bermuda.According to the National Hurricane Centre, the storm appears to be on a direct course to the Island. Already the surf on South Shore is rising, the storm is expected to reach its closet point of approach around 3am Sunday.The Emergency Measures Organisation will meet tomorrow to discuss the latest developments. Meanwhile, plans are underway to shut down the Hamilton Docks at the end of business on Thursday.General Manager at Stevedoring Services Peter Aldrich said portworkers need at least two days to prepare the docks for a storm.He said: “Its anticipated that we will be closed on Friday, this will be confirmed by Wednesday.”Notices were sent out today asking people with containers on the docks to pick them up as soon as possible.“The less containers we have on the docks the better,” said Mr Aldrich. “As an essential service we need to be up and running within the quickest time frame possible after a storm.“There is always the threat of empty containers being washed overboard, we also need to tie down equipment and make sure there is no loose debris on the docks before the storm,” he added.“We have our finger on the pulse of the situation and will make a decision on Wednesday.”The container ship Bermuda Islander is due in port on Thursday from New Jersey. The ship, which normally leaves on Friday mornings, will be offloaded on Thursday and possibly sent back out to sea by sunset the same day.Cruise ship agents are also weighing up alternative destinations to Bermuda this weekend. The Norwegian Dawn is due in from Boston at 11am on Sunday.Vice President of Maritime Operations at Meyer Agencies, Joe Semos said: “Tentative arrangements are being made for her to go to the Bahamas instead of Bermuda this weekend.“We will know for sure by Friday when the ship boards in Boston,” he said.The Norwegian Star which is due in port on Wednesday from New York and is still set to leave Bermuda on Friday at 5pm; but that too is subject to change.Mr Semos noted: “This is the first real storm we've had this year, but we still have six to eight weeks to go for this hurricane season. We're hoping this storm takes a turn away from Bermuda, but we're keeping a very close eye on it right now.”The Bermuda Weather Service will continue to monitor the storm as it tracks towards Bermuda.A spokeswoman said the surf in the local area started picking up late Monday.Yesterday the lifeguards at Horseshoe Bay closed down the beach to swimming at approximately 3pm exhausting all efforts to maintain a safer portion of the beach open to swimmers.Since then they have advised that the surf conditions at Horseshoe Bay are too dangerous to allow entry for swimming. A Government spokesman said: “Lifeguards there have begun closing down the beach to swimming.“After a final inspection of the beach, the lifeguards at Horseshoe will leave the beach after ensuring that do not enter water signs are placed at the main entrance in front of the concessions building and at additional entrances.“Additional signs will be added throughout the day at Horseshoe to ensure adequate signage at that beach. At this time, the plan will be to suspend Horseshoe to Lifeguard coverage until conditions considerably improve.“The red high surf warning signs remain erected along the South Shore from Church Bay, Southampton through to and including John Smith's Bay.”The National Hurricane Centre has said that the tropical storm is moving on a track that might take the storm to Bermuda by the weekend.Meanwhile, winds will increase to moderate today, with a few showers arriving in the local area on Friday.* If you have pictures or videos of the approach of TS Leslie email them to jdeacon@royalgazette.bm* Follow Leslie's path on our weather page. Click here