coverage for personal injury or property damage caused by a "gradual, unexpected and unintended discarge of pollutants and clean-up costs resulting therefrom'' the company stated in a press release.

Starr will offer the coverage on a non-site specific basis for most insureds and will not require an engineering survey.

"This is a significant expansion of the pollution coverage traditionally offered in the global market and represents a unique feature for the excess liability market in Bermuda,'' the company said. Starr has a limit of indemnity on the product of up to US$50 million with a minimum attachment point of US$5 million.

The new coverage offering is part of a series of changes Starr has been making as it repositions itself in a highly competitive market. In the last two months Starr has launched an umbrella financial lines excess package, and expanded its occurrence coverage for core general liability.

The umbrella policy covers a mix of general liability, directors and officers, professional, employment practices, and fidelity and pension trustees coverages. The occurrence coverage is for clients with risks in the low to moderate exposure range and covers losses even if the claim is made after the policy period has expired.

The company is in the process of being reincorporated in the state of Delaware in the US. While the Bermuda office will remain in place executives won't say where the company is going to be run from until the Delaware incorporation is approved.

An advertisement for a Bermuda branch manager states the person hired will report to the chief operating officer and senior executive officer in Boston, Massachusetts.

Starr wants to use the US platform to access the North American market directly. The company has also established a Dublin office.

The moves come after American International Group earlier this year purchased the 76 percent of Starr it didn't already own.