unlikely to affect C&W's Bermuda operations.

The telecommunications giant said yesterday the $66 million purchase would add six cable-laying ships to C&W's existing fleet of nine, according to Bloomberg Business News.

C&W already operates the world's largest fleet of cable-laying ships.

BT (Marine) Ltd. is the marine subsidiary of British Telecommunications plc.

The purchase is expected to be be completed by mid-November, and will not impact on Bermuda operations, according to Cable and Wireless Bermuda spokesman Mr. John Instone.

"We have a cable ship, the Sir Eric Sharp , permanently based in Bermuda to look after the PTAT (Private Trans-Atlantic Telephone) submarine fibre optic cable.'' The PTAT runs from Bermuda to the UK-US submarine fibre optic cable. "This acquisition significantly reinforces our position and adds further dimension to the group's global capabilities,'' said Mr. James Ross, chief executive of C&W.

Under the agreement, BT will retain ownership of its Atlantic cable maintenance vessel and will continue its representation as a shipowner in the Atlantic Cable Maintenance Agreement.

According to a BT spokesperson, the company sold BT (Marine) because it felt it did not have the strategic requirement to retain its own undersea cable installation capability.