<PAGE>

                       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


                                 AUGUST 13, 2002
                DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)


                           UNIFAB INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


           LOUISIANA                     0-29416                  72-1382998
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF        (COMMISSION              (IRS EMPLOYER
         INCORPORATION)                FILE NUMBER)          IDENTIFICATION NO.)


                                 5007 PORT ROAD
                           NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA 70560
               (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)


                                 (337) 367-8291
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)

<PAGE>

ITEM 4.  CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

         Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y"), the accounting firm that has been the
independent auditor of UNIFAB International, Inc. (the "Company") since its
initial public offering in 1997, has resigned from its engagement with the
Company, effective August 15, 2002. E&Y notified the Company of its resignation
on August 13, 2002.

         In its report on the Company's audited financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2001, E&Y modified its audit opinion by noting that
there was substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern through the 2002 fiscal year. This modification was the only
qualification or modification expressed by E&Y in its audit opinions during its
five-year engagement as the Company's independent auditor. During the five-year
period of this engagement, the Company did not have any disagreements with E&Y
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 (a)     No financial statements are filed with this report.

 (b)     No pro forma financial information is filed with this report.

 (c)     Exhibits.

         16    Letter from Ernst & Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange
               Commission dated August 16, 2002.



                                    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.

                                    By: /s/ Allen C. Porter, Jr.
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Allen C. Porter, Jr.
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  August 16, 2002
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "UNIFAB INTERNATIONAL INC", "cik": "0000101990", "assigned-sic": "3730", "irs-number": "721382998", "state-of-incorporation": "LA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-29416", "film-number": "02742080"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5007 PORT RD", "city": "NEW IBERIA", "state": "LA", "zip": "70562", "phone": "3373678291"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 11308", "city": "NEW IBERIA", "state": "LA", "zip": "70562"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "UNIVERSAL FABRICATORS INC", "date-changed": "19970617"}}
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

                                 AUGUST 13, 2002
                DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)

                           UNIFAB INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           LOUISIANA                     0-29416                  72-1382998
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF        (COMMISSION              (IRS EMPLOYER
         INCORPORATION)                FILE NUMBER)          IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                                 5007 PORT ROAD
                           NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA 70560
               (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

                                 (337) 367-8291
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)
ITEM 4.  CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

         Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y"), the accounting firm that has been the
independent auditor of UNIFAB International, Inc. (the "Company") since its
initial public offering in 1997, has resigned from its engagement with the
Company, effective August 15, 2002. E&Y notified the Company of its resignation
on August 13, 2002.

         In its report on the Company's audited financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2001, E&Y modified its audit opinion by noting that
there was substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern through the 2002 fiscal year. This modification was the only
qualification or modification expressed by E&Y in its audit opinions during its
five-year engagement as the Company's independent auditor. During the five-year
period of this engagement, the Company did not have any disagreements with E&Y
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 (a)     No financial statements are filed with this report.

 (b)     No pro forma financial information is filed with this report.

 (c)     Exhibits.

         16    Letter from Ernst & Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange
               Commission dated August 16, 2002.

                                    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.

                                    By: /s/ Allen C. Porter, Jr.
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Allen C. Porter, Jr.
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  August 16, 2002