(Bloomberg) — Ships at Australia's east coast port of Gladstone, an export harbor for coal and liquefied natural gas, are moving out to sea as severe tropical cyclone Marcia bears down on the Queensland coast.

The Gladstone region is on yellow alert and 34 vessels have been ordered to pull anchor and head to deeper water, the Department of Transport and Main Roads said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday. Marcia is a "very dangerous" cyclone and is forecast to strengthen before hitting the coast early Friday, according to an advisory from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Flooding from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald in 2013 damaged rail tracks that carry coal to Gladstone prompting companies including Rio Tinto Group to declare force majeure on exports. Aurizon Holdings Ltd. has suspended freight services on a line from Brisbane to Mackay after Queensland Rail closed the track, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

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