UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                   Washington, D.C.  20549
                    ____________________

                          FORM 8-K

                       CURRENT REPORT

 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
                         Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
             October 20, 2003 (October 20, 2003)
                     ___________________

                    TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
   (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                          000-32855
                   (Commission File Number)

            Delaware                     74-2982117
(State or Other Jurisdiction of        (IRS Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)      Identification No.)

      401 Whitney Avenue, Suite 400
           Gretna, Louisiana                 70056-2596
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

  Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
                      (504) 367-7030


ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

On  October  20, 2003, Torch Offshore, Inc. (the  "Company")
issued a press release announcing the appointment of Richard
J.  (Jere)  Shopf  to the Company's Board of  Directors.  In
addition, Mr. Shopf will serve as the Chairman of the  Audit
Committee and as a member  of  the Compensation Committee.

A  copy of the Company's press release announcing the  above
is  filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated
herein by reference.


ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PROFORMA FINANCIAL
          INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

          (a)  Not applicable.

          (b)  Not applicable.

          (c)  Exhibits.

          The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit No.                Description
-----------			   -----------

   99.1     Torch  Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
            October 20, 2003.


                          SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report  to  be
signed  on  its  behalf  by  the undersigned  hereunto  duly
authorized.

                              TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.


                              By: /s/ ROBERT E. FULTON
Date: October 20, 2003        ------------------------
                              Robert E. Fulton
                              Chief Financial Officer


                      INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                Description
-----------                -----------

  99.1      Torch  Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
            October 20, 2003.


                                             EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release   Contact: Bob Fulton (1)504-367-7030
to: Analysts, Financial               b.fulton@torchinc.com
Community, Media               Bradley Lowe (1)504-367-7030
                                        b.lowe@torchinc.com

  Torch Offshore Appoints Richard J. Shopf as Director

New Orleans, Louisiana USA, October 20, 2003

Torch   Offshore,   Inc.  (NASDAQ:  TORC)  (the   "Company")
announced  today  that  Richard J. (Jere)  Shopf   has  been
appointed  to  serve as a member of the Company's  Board  of
Directors effective immediately. In addition, Mr. Shopf will
serve as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member
of the Compensation Committee.

Mr.  Shopf  currently  serves as the Chairman,  Senior  Vice
President  and  Chief  Restructuring Officer  of  Babcock  &
Wilcox,  a McDermott Company, and has been in that  position
since 1999. In addition, Mr. Shopf serves as the Chairman of
RPM  Management Company. Prior to these roles, Mr. Shopf had
executive  positions with Pioneer Americas, Inc.,  Southwest
Business  Associates,  Inc., Rice Capital  Corporation/First
Texas  Merchant Banking Group, Halter Marine, Inc., Republic
Drilling and Service, Inc., and Newpark Resources, Inc.  Mr.
Shopf  also serves as a member of the board of directors  of
other  companies, including Evans Industries and  C.F.  Bean
Companies. Mr. Shopf has an MBA from Harvard University  and
a Bachelor of  Science in mechanical  engineering  from  the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Lyle  G. Stockstill, Torch Offshore, Inc. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, commented, "We are quite pleased to bring
Jere  on as a member of the Board of Directors. Jere has  an
extensive   business  background  with  a  great   deal   of
experience  in  serving on the board of directors  of  other
companies.  We welcome Jere aboard and look forward  to  his
contributions   assisting  in  the  growth   and   strategic
development of Torch Offshore, Inc."

Established  in  1978, Torch Offshore, Inc. is  involved  in
offshore  pipeline installation and subsea construction  for
the  oil  and natural gas industry. Torch Offshore, Inc.  is
expanding beyond its established shallow water niche  market
in  order to serve the industry's worldwide growing needs in
the deep waters.

Any  statements made in this news release, other than  those
of  historical fact, about an action, event or  development,
which  the  Company hopes, expects, believes or  anticipates
may  or  will  occur  in  the  future,  are  forward-looking
statements  under the Private Securities Litigation  Act  of
1995.  Such  statements are subject to various  assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, which are specifically described in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31,  2002  filed with  the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission, as well as other factors that  may  not
be  within  the  Company's control, including, specifically,
oil and natural gas commodity prices, weather conditions and
offshore construction activity levels. Although the  Company
believes   its   expectations  are   based   on   reasonable
assumptions,  it  gives  no  assurance  that  the  Company's
assumptions and projections will prove to be correct. Actual
results may differ materially from those projected.

                                                   PR 03-017
                            # # #
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "shopf8k.txt", "description": "JERE SHOPF FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6104}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TORCH OFFSHORE INC", "cik": "0001129650", "assigned-sic": "1389", "irs-number": "742982117", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-32855", "film-number": "03947346"}, "business-address": {"street1": "401 WHITNEY AVENUE", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "GRETNA", "state": "LA", "zip": "70056", "phone": "5043677030"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "401 WHITNEY AVENUE", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "GRETNA", "state": "LA", "zip": "70056"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "TORCH OFFSHORE INC", "date-changed": "20001207"}}
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                   Washington, D.C.  20549
                    ____________________

                          FORM 8-K

                       CURRENT REPORT

 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
                         Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
             October 20, 2003 (October 20, 2003)
                     ___________________

                    TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
   (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                          000-32855
                   (Commission File Number)

            Delaware                     74-2982117
(State or Other Jurisdiction of        (IRS Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)      Identification No.)

      401 Whitney Avenue, Suite 400
           Gretna, Louisiana                 70056-2596
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

  Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
                      (504) 367-7030

ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

On  October  20, 2003, Torch Offshore, Inc. (the  "Company")
issued a press release announcing the appointment of Richard
J.  (Jere)  Shopf  to the Company's Board of  Directors.  In
addition, Mr. Shopf will serve as the Chairman of the  Audit
Committee and as a member  of  the Compensation Committee.

A  copy of the Company's press release announcing the  above
is  filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PROFORMA FINANCIAL
          INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

          (a)  Not applicable.

          (b)  Not applicable.

          (c)  Exhibits.

          The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit No.                Description
-----------			   -----------

   99.1     Torch  Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
            October 20, 2003.

                          SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report  to  be
signed  on  its  behalf  by  the undersigned  hereunto  duly
authorized.

                              TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.

                              By: /s/ ROBERT E. FULTON
Date: October 20, 2003        ------------------------
                              Robert E. Fulton
                              Chief Financial Officer

                      INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                Description
-----------                -----------

  99.1      Torch  Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
            October 20, 2003.

                                             EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release   Contact: Bob Fulton (1)504-367-7030
to: Analysts, Financial               b.fulton@torchinc.com
Community, Media               Bradley Lowe (1)504-367-7030
                                        b.lowe@torchinc.com

  Torch Offshore Appoints Richard J. Shopf as Director

New Orleans, Louisiana USA, October 20, 2003

Torch   Offshore,   Inc.  (NASDAQ:  TORC)  (the   "Company")
announced  today  that  Richard J. (Jere)  Shopf   has  been
appointed  to  serve as a member of the Company's  Board  of
Directors effective immediately. In addition, Mr. Shopf will
serve as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member
of the Compensation Committee.

Mr.  Shopf  currently  serves as the Chairman,  Senior  Vice
President  and  Chief  Restructuring Officer  of  Babcock  &
Wilcox,  a McDermott Company, and has been in that  position
since 1999. In addition, Mr. Shopf serves as the Chairman of
RPM  Management Company. Prior to these roles, Mr. Shopf had
executive  positions with Pioneer Americas, Inc.,  Southwest
Business  Associates,  Inc., Rice Capital  Corporation/First
Texas  Merchant Banking Group, Halter Marine, Inc., Republic
Drilling and Service, Inc., and Newpark Resources, Inc.  Mr.
Shopf  also serves as a member of the board of directors  of
other  companies, including Evans Industries and  C.F.  Bean
Companies. Mr. Shopf has an MBA from Harvard University  and
a Bachelor of  Science in mechanical  engineering  from  the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Lyle  G. Stockstill, Torch Offshore, Inc. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, commented, "We are quite pleased to bring
Jere  on as a member of the Board of Directors. Jere has  an
extensive   business  background  with  a  great   deal   of
experience  in  serving on the board of directors  of  other
companies.  We welcome Jere aboard and look forward  to  his
contributions   assisting  in  the  growth   and   strategic
development of Torch Offshore, Inc."

Established  in  1978, Torch Offshore, Inc. is  involved  in
offshore  pipeline installation and subsea construction  for
the  oil  and natural gas industry. Torch Offshore, Inc.  is
expanding beyond its established shallow water niche  market
in  order to serve the industry's worldwide growing needs in
the deep waters.

Any  statements made in this news release, other than  those
of  historical fact, about an action, event or  development,
which  the  Company hopes, expects, believes or  anticipates
may  or  will  occur  in  the  future,  are  forward-looking
statements  under the Private Securities Litigation  Act  of
1995.  Such  statements are subject to various  assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, which are specifically described in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31,  2002  filed with  the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission, as well as other factors that  may  not
be  within  the  Company's control, including, specifically,
oil and natural gas commodity prices, weather conditions and
offshore construction activity levels. Although the  Company
believes   its   expectations  are   based   on   reasonable
assumptions,  it  gives  no  assurance  that  the  Company's
assumptions and projections will prove to be correct. Actual
results may differ materially from those projected.

                                                   PR 03-017
                            # # #