recently announced closing a distribution agreement with Massachusetts-based AltaVista Internet Software, Inc.

Under the deal, BSL is designated authorised distributor of AltaVista products in Bermuda.

AltaVista, formed last year, offers software products and services for Internet/Intranet market as well as a search service on the world wide web.

"Technical solutions provided by the company include security, search and directory services, BSL said.

"The AltaVista Internet search engine is the world's most popular Internet search engine with more than 21 million queries per day while the AltaVista firewall achieved accreditation by the National Computer Security Association as the industry's first approved firewall on Windows NT.'' BSL general manager Stephen Pozzobon said: "With the AltaVista product line, we can confidently secure our international clients' networks from intrusion as well as provide simple and direct access to information and people over the Internet and private Intranets.'' FINANCING PLAN GETS GREEN LIGHT SHI Financing plan gets green light Bermuda-registered Sea Containers Ltd. completed a $200 million securitised financing of marine containers, the company said yesterday.

The financing package reduces Sea Containers interest costs on long term debt by almost one percent per annum, Sea Containers said.

Previously, the company has relied almost entirely on bank financing to finance its containers.

The company expects to continue to depend on bank financing, using long established revolving credit lines totalling $600 million, of which $300 million is currently drawn.

Securitising container debt in the commercial paper market enables the company to increase container leasing business, the company said.