Cup Match revellers face being hit for six over the holiday unless industrial action by ferry workers is halted.

Marine and Ports Minister David Dodwell announced yesterday a special Cup Match Ferry would be running -- if the dispute was resolved.

"Assuming that the dispute between the Government and the Bermuda Industrial Union has been resolved and the overtime ban of Marine and Ports' staff has been lifted, the department of Marine and Ports are offering, in addition to the regular ferry service, a special Cup match ferry both Thursday and Friday.'' At issue is ferry workers displeasure over the pace at which wage negotiations were proceeding.

Ferry workers are just one of several Government department in the process of negotiating their wages. They have been without a wage agreement since December 1996.

And he said that Somerset Cricket Club had not hired a tender for Cup Match, contrary to a recently broadcasted report.

"Contrary to an earlier report, the Somerset Cricket Club has not hired a tender for Cup match for many years,'' Mr. Dodwell pointed out. "Both clubs have expressed their delight to me that the Government has seen fit to offer this service.'' If the dispute is resolved, locals will be able to sail through the holiday.

The usual summer East/West service between Dockyard and St. George's will be extended into the evening. The ferry will return to St. George's to pick up commuters and depart for Dockyard at 8 p.m., arriving in the West End around 9.15 p.m.

Mr. Dodwell said the Friday ferry would leave Dockyard at 7.45 a.m. and sail directly to St. George's where it will remain all day. it will cruise back to Dockyard at approximately 8.30 p.m.

Government usually runs an East/West ferry during the summer every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

But on Wednesday and Thursday the service had to be cancelled as a result of the worker's industrial action.

Mr. Dodwell said any transportation pass would be accepted as fare on the Cup Match ferry.

"For those who have not pre-purchased passes the one day transportation pass will be available for sale on board the ferry at $10 each,'' he added. "The fare for children ages five to 16 years is $2 for the round trip. Seniors, special persons and children aged four years or lass will be carried free.'' The regular Paget/Warwick and Somerset/Dockyard ferries will be operating on a Saturday schedule over the Cup Match holiday.

Marine and Ports director Ron Ross yesterday said the ferry service would remain up in the air while union and Government officials tried to reach an agreement.

"We are still on a day to day basis,'' he said. "We lost one Somerset ferry today.'' Commuters at the Hamilton Ferry terminal were greeted yesterday with a sign stating: "Somerset Ferry cancelled 10 a.m., 12, 2 and 4 p.m. only.'' Union and Government officials will meet again on Monday to try to calm the waters and hammer out an agreement.