Poten provides brokerage and consulting services to the energy and ocean transportation industries. The joint venture will assume the development of the Weaver's Cove LNG terminal project in Fall River, Massachusetts.

"The creation of Hess LNG will strengthen our capability in the LNG business, enhance our access to long-lived, low-cost natural gas reserves and complement the company's strong natural gas marketing position in the eastern US," said John Hess, Amerada chairman and chief