members facing a Supreme Court action.

It is feared some Marine and Ports staff may down tools and march to the Supreme Court to support their colleagues from Stevedoring Services, who are facing a civil action over an overtime dispute.

Management were unclear last night whether or not ferry services would be affected, but at the last hearing in February crews ran commuter trips before marching to court.

But any possible action is not likely to affect a planned transfer of hundreds of relatives and US servicemen to and from warships moored off the Island today.

A West End ferry was to be used to move 1,000 people back and forth from Ordnance Island to the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy , cruiser Seattle and supply ship Monteray as part of the "Tiger Cruise''.

Last night, Marine and Ports director Ron Ross said: "Officially we have had no notification of any industrial action.'' And Stevedoring Services could not be reached for comment as to whether or not their employees would report for work as normal.

It is understood Marine and Ports management were preparing to man the vessel themselves in the event of a shutdown, to make sure the transfer of relatives and crew went ahead as planned.

The operation was due to start at first light and continue most of the morning. Families have been flown in on charter flights and servicemen will fly out after leaving the vessels.

Calls to the BIU were not returned last night.