BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's largest mining company, halted loading coal ships at its Hay Point terminal in Australia's Queensland state because of high seas and windy conditions.

``We finished loading a ship last night and we haven't sailed another one in due to the inclement weather,'' Emma Meade, a spokeswoman for Melbourne-based BHP, said in an e-mail. ``We're continuing to monitor the conditions but we expect to be fully operational at Hay Point by tomorrow afternoon.''

The nation's weather bureau today issued a gale wind warning for waters along the central coast of Queensland, the world's largest coking coal shipper. The warning currently extends from Cairns to Gladstone, and the affected area will be reduced to between Mackay and Double Island Point tomorrow.

Loading of coal at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty, the second-largest in Australia, has been delayed by the strong winds, said Greg Smith, general manager for operations at the Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group unit that owns the site.

``There will be a slight delay of up to a maximum of 24 hours,'' he said by phone. The delay isn't likely to have a ``material affect'' on any ships, he said. It is ``not an unusual event and it's not a lengthy delay.''

The coal terminal, which lies 38 kilometers (24 miles) south of Mackay, is the country's second biggest after Newcastle. Hay Point is at the same location.

Queensland may experience ``gusty conditions around coastal areas,'' Craig Mitchell, senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, said by phone from Brisbane.