James Burnett-Herkes III is starting up Gordian Environmental Management Ltd.

The company will be in the business of environmental consulting and management. Mr. Burnett-Herkes III's father, James Burnett-Herkes, is permanent secretary of the Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Natural Resources.

"There is a need for this kind of company in Bermuda,'' Mr. Burnett-Herkes III said. "There is nobody providing such services locally.'' The company will conduct tests on soil, air and water, evaluate contamination at a site, and advise companies on the best clean-up and storage methods. The firm will also do environmental impact assessments, which are being required in Bermuda as a planning prerequisite for major new construction projects.

Mr. Burnett-Herkes said such work was currently going to foreign firms because of a lack of local expertise. For example Bermuda Properties Ltd. had had to hire US firms to conduct an environmental assessment of its proposed Ship's Hill development.

"There is no reason why the work can't be done locally,'' Mr. Burnett-Herkes said. He also believes his firm will be useful in advising local businesses dealing with potentially hazardous materials.

"There are a lot of small industries in Bermuda and small users of potentially hazardous materials and chemicals who are not as conscious of their practices as they need to be,'' he said.

Mr. Burnett-Herkes III has degrees in environment and chemical engineering, and in environmental management. He has worked for the past two-and-a-half years in the US with an environmental consulting firm. For now he will be the only employee of his firm, which is in the process of incorporation.

FRONTLINE REPORTED PLANNING MERGER BUC Frontline reported planning merger Frontline AB, the Swedish shipping company about to register in Bermuda, is reportedly in merger talks with Bermuda-listed tanker group London & Oversea Freighters (LOF), according to Lloyd's List.

Norway's John Fredriksen, who took over Frontline and started reorganising the company, has pledged to become a leading force among the world's major tanker players. "We have an ambitious plan to make Frontline the most attractive investment vehicle for global investors who want to invest in the large tanker market,'' Mr. Fredriksen said.

Both he and LOF remain tight lipped about the merger talks according to the newspaper.

"Observers believe a deal could be announced in the next six weeks, with Norway's John Fredriksen the favourite to clinch the merger,'' Lloyd's said.

Since Mr. Fredriksen acquired a 62.5 percent stake in Stockholm-listed Frontline last year he has pledged to do a major overhaul of the company. Last week he announced his moves. Frontline reported that it was registering its Swedish operations in Bermuda with the transfer expected to cost about $3.19 million. Frontline partly blamed the move on union problems.

Mr. Fredriksen also said he was de-listing from the Swedish exchange and re-listing in Oslo, Norway. Frontline is to concentrate on its 19-strong fleet of tankers and pull out of the dry cargo business.

"Frontline's move is a coup for the Oslo Stock Exchange, but a blow for Sweden which will lose one of its leading large tanker firms,'' the newspaper stated.

RENAISSANCE MULLS SALE OF SHARES BUC Renaissance mulls sale of shares Bermuda-based RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. announced yesterday that it was considering selling about three million common shares in a secondary offering, at the request of the company's initial institutional investors.

All the shares in the proposed offering will be sold by the company's initial institutional investors, a press release stated.

RenaissanceRe provides insurance and reinsurance worldwide.