<HTML>



<body>

<font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July
27, 2001.</p>
<p ALIGN="RIGHT">Registration No. 333-_______</p>
</font>
<hr>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="4">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</p>
</font></b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER">Washington, D.C. 20549</p>
</font><font FACE="Courier">
<hr width="25%">
</font>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="5">FORM S-8<br>
</font></b>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
UNDER<br>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</p>
<font FACE="Courier">
<hr width="25%">
</font>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="5">Tidewater Inc.</font></b><i><font SIZE="2"><br>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>
</font></i><font FACE="Courier">
<hr width="25%">
</font><b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>
<div align="center">
  <center>
  <table border="0" width="100%">
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font SIZE="2">Delaware</font></b></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font SIZE="2">72-0487776</font></b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center" valign="top"><font SIZE="2"><i>(State or
        other<br>
        jurisdiction of incorporation<br>
        or organization)</i></font></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" valign="top"><font SIZE="2"><i>(I.R.S.
        Employer<br>
        Identification No.)</i></font></td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
  </center>
</div>
</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i></i><b>
<p ALIGN="center">601 Poydras Street<br>
Suite 1900<br>
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130<br>
(504) 568-1010</b><i><br>
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number<br>
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)</p>
</i></font><font FACE="Courier">
<hr width="25%">
</font><b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="center">TIDEWATER INC.<br>
2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i><br>
(Full title of the Plan)</p>
</i></font><font FACE="Courier">
<hr width="25%">
</font>
<div align="center">
  <center>
  <table border="0" width="100%">
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center"></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center"><b><font SIZE="2">COPY TO</font></b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%" align="center" valign="top"><b><font SIZE="2">Cliffe F.
        Laborde<br>
        Executive Vice President, <br>
        Secretary and General Counsel <br>
        Tidewater Inc. <br>
        601 Poydras Street<br>
        Suite 1900<br>
        New Orleans, Louisiana 70130<br>
        (504) 566-4545</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i><br>
        (Name, address, including zip code,<br>
        and telephone number, including<br>
        area code, of agent for service)</i></font></td>
      <td width="50%" align="center" valign="top"><b><font SIZE="2">Margaret F.
        Murphy<br>
        Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,<br>
        Carr&#232;re&nbsp;&amp; Den&#232;gre, L.L.P.<br>
        51st Floor<br>
        201 St. Charles Avenue<br>
        New Orleans, Louisiana 70170</font></b></td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
  </center>
</div>
<b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>
</font></b><font SIZE="1">
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>
</font><b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="center">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</p>
</font></b>
<div align="center">
  <center>
  <table BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="1" cellpadding="0" WIDTH="100%">
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="54" valign="bottom" colspan="5">
        <hr>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="26%" HEIGHT="54" valign="middle"><font SIZE="1"><b>
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Title of Each Class of<br>
        Securities to be Registered</b></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="54" valign="baseline"><b><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Amount<br>
        to be<br>
        Registered</font></b><font SIZE="1"><sup>(1)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="54" valign="baseline"><b><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed Maximum<br>
        Offering Price<br>
        Per Unit</font></b><font SIZE="1"><sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="54" valign="baseline"><b><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed Maximum<br>
        Aggregate Offering<br>
        Price</font></b><font SIZE="1"><sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="13%" HEIGHT="54" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1"><b>
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">Amount of<br>
        Registration<br>
        Fee</b></font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top" colspan="5">
        <hr>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="26%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline">
        <p align="center"><font SIZE="1">
        Common Stock</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
      <p align="center">&nbsp; 228,500 shares</p>
      </font>
      </td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$ 35.29<sup>(3)</sup></p>
        </font></td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$&nbsp;&nbsp; 8,063,765</p>
        </font></td>
      <td WIDTH="13%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$&nbsp; 2,015.94</p>
        </font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="26%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"></td>
    </center>
    <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline">
      <p align="center"><font SIZE="1">
      2,621,500 shares</font>
      </td>
  <center>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$ 34.26<sup>(4)</sup></font></td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$ 90,497,790</p>
        </font></td>
      <td WIDTH="13%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$22,624.45</p>
        </font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="26%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top"></td>
    <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top">
      <hr size="1" width="60%">
      </td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top"></td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top">
        <hr size="1" width="60%">
      </td>
      <td WIDTH="13%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top">
        <hr size="1" width="60%">
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="26%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top">
        <p></td>
    </center>
    <td WIDTH="17%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
      <p align="center"><center>2,850,000 shares</font></p>
      </center>
      </td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top"></td>
      <td WIDTH="22%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$ 98,561,555</font></td>
      <td WIDTH="13%" HEIGHT="25" valign="baseline"><font SIZE="1">
        <p ALIGN="CENTER">$24,640.39</font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="100%" HEIGHT="25" valign="top" colspan="5">
        <hr>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
</div>
<font SIZE="1">
<div align="right">
  <table border="0" width="100%">
    <tr>
      <td width="6%" valign="top"><font SIZE="1">(1)</font></td>
      <td width="94%"><font SIZE="1">Upon a stock split, stock dividend or
        similar transaction in the future and during the effectiveness of this
        Registration Statement involving Common Stock of the Company, the number
        of shares registered shall be automatically increased to cover the
        additional shares in accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities
        Act of 1933.</font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="6%" valign="top"><font SIZE="1">(2)</font></td>
      <td width="94%"><font SIZE="1">Estimated solely for the purpose of
        calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h).</font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="6%" valign="top"><font SIZE="1">(3)</font></td>
      <td width="94%"><font SIZE="1">Based on the price at which outstanding
        options may be exercised.</font></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="6%" valign="top"><font SIZE="1">(4)</font></td>
      <td width="94%"><font SIZE="1">The average of the high and low price per
        share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 20, 2001.</font></td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
</div>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</font><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">PART II</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p>Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of Documents
by Reference.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The following documents, which
have been filed by Tidewater Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the &quot;Commission&quot;), are incorporated herein by
reference:</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's Current Reports on
Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;11, 2001 and April 19, 2001.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Common
Stock included in Amendments to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
8-A/A filed with the Commission on May 24, 1993.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All reports filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to
the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to
the extent otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by
the Commission, be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of Securities</b>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</b>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
        <b>
        <p>Item 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the &quot;DGCL&quot;)
authorizes a court to award, or a corporation's board of directors to grant,
indemnity to directors and officers under certain circumstances for liabilities
incurred in connection with their activities in such capacities (including
reimbursement for expenses incurred). Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a
provision in the certificate of incorporation of each corporation organized
thereunder, including the Company, eliminating or limiting, with certain
exceptions, the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its
shareholders for monetary damages for certain breaches of fiduciary duty as a
director. Article VIII of the Company's By-laws provides that the Company
shall indemnify any directors, directors emeriti, officers, employees and agents
who were or are parties to or threatened to be made parties to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding for liabilities and expenses
incurred by reason of their actions in such capacities on behalf of the Company,
provided that the party seeking indemnification acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that in
the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter as to which such party shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the corporation unless and only to the extent that an appropriate court shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, such party is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the court shall deem proper. The
Company's By-laws also state, among other things, that it is the policy of the
Company to indemnify directors, directors emeriti, officers, agents and
employees of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law. In addition,
the Company maintains an insurance policy designed to reimburse the Company for
any payments made by it pursuant to the foregoing indemnification. Such policy
has coverage of $15 million.</p>
<b>
<p>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption From Registration Claimed</b>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
        <b>
        <p>Item 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Exhibits.</p>
</b>
        <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carr&#232;re&nbsp;&amp;
        Den&#232;gre, L.L.P.</p>
        <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        Consent of Ernst &amp; Young LLP.</p>
        <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23.2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).</p>
        <b>
        <p>Item 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Undertakings.</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</p>
</font></b><font SIZE="2">
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</font>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <font SIZE="2">
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, on July 26, 2001.</p>
<div align="right">
  <table border="0" width="100%">
    <tr>
      <td width="50%"></td>
      <td width="50%"><font SIZE="2">
TIDEWATER INC.
</font>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td width="50%"></td>
      <td width="50%"><font SIZE="2">
<p>By:&nbsp;<u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
/s/ Cliffe F. Laborde&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u><br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Cliffe F. Laborde<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Executive Vice President, Secretary<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
and General Counsel</p>
</font>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </TABLE>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">POWER OF ATTORNEY</p>
</b>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Cliffe F. Laborde and J. Keith Lousteau, or
either one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying
and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.</p>
</font>
<table border="0" width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td>
<p></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
<u>Signature</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;<u>Title</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;<u>Date
</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><br>
    </td>
    <td></td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
                                            <p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
                                            <u>
                                            /s/ William C. O'Malley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>

    </td>
    <td>
                                            <p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
Chairman
                                            of the Board, President
</font>
      </p>

    </td>
    <td><p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;July 26, 2001</font></p>

    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
William C. O'Malley
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td><p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;and Chief Executive Officer
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
(Principal Executive Officer)
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td><br>
    </td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ J. Keith Lousteau&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td align="center">
<p> <font SIZE="2">
Senior Vice President and
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
J. Keith Lousteau
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td align="center">
<p> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp; Chief Financial Officer
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td align="center">
<p> <font SIZE="2">
(Principal Financial Officer)
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ Joseph M. Bennett&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
Vice President and
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
Joseph M. Bennett
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp; Corporate Controller
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
(Principal Accounting Officer)
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td><br>
    </td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ Robert H. Boh&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"> <font SIZE="2">
Robert H. Boh
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center">
<u><font SIZE="2">
/s/ Donald T. Bollinger&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u></p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Donald T. Bollinger
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ Arthur R. Carlson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Arthur R. Carlson
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">
<u>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July __, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Jon C. Madonna
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ Paul W. Murrill&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Paul W. Murrill
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ Lester Pollack&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Lester Pollack
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ J. Hugh Roff, Jr.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">J. Hugh Roff, Jr.
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p><br>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">
<u>
/s/ Donald G. Russell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u>
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Director
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">&nbsp; July 26, 2001
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Donald G. Russell
</font>
      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>

</body>

</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "tdws872701.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 27229}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TIDEWATER INC", "cik": "0000098222", "assigned-sic": "4400", "irs-number": "720487776", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-66054", "film-number": "1690925"}, "business-address": {"street1": "601 POYDRAS ST.", "street2": "SUITE 1900", "city": "NEW ORLEANS", "state": "LA", "zip": "70130", "phone": "5045681010"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "601 POYDRAS ST.", "street2": "SUITE 1900", "city": "NEW ORLEANS", "state": "LA", "zip": "70130"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "TIDEWATER MARINE SERVICE INC", "date-changed": "19780724"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July
27, 2001.
Registration No. 333-_______
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Tidewater Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
72-0487776
(State or
        other
jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
(I.R.S.
        Employer
Identification No.)
601 Poydras Street
Suite 1900
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 568-1010
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
TIDEWATER INC.
2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)
COPY TO
Cliffe F.
        Laborde
Executive Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel
Tidewater Inc.
601 Poydras Street
Suite 1900
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 566-4545
(Name, address, including zip code,
and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)
Margaret F.
        Murphy
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,
Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P.
51st Floor
201 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
Amount
to be
Registered
(1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit
(2)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price
(2)
Amount of
Registration
Fee
Common Stock
228,500 shares
$ 35.29
(3)
$   8,063,765
$  2,015.94
2,621,500 shares
$ 34.26
(4)
$ 90,497,790
$22,624.45
2,850,000 shares
$ 98,561,555
$24,640.39
(1)
Upon a stock split, stock dividend or
        similar transaction in the future and during the effectiveness of this
        Registration Statement involving Common Stock of the Company, the number
        of shares registered shall be automatically increased to cover the
        additional shares in accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities
        Act of 1933.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of
        calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h).
(3)
Based on the price at which outstanding
        options may be exercised.
(4)
The average of the high and low price per
        share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 20, 2001.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 3.        Incorporation of Documents
by Reference.
The following documents, which
have been filed by Tidewater Inc. (the "Company") with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are incorporated herein by
reference:
(a)        The Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001.
(b)        The Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.
(c)        The Company's Current Reports on
Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 11, 2001 and April 19, 2001.
(d)        The description of the Common
Stock included in Amendments to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
8-A/A filed with the Commission on May 24, 1993.
All reports filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to
the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to
the extent otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by
the Commission, be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4.        Description of Securities
.
Not applicable.
Item 5.        Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
.
Not applicable.
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL")
authorizes a court to award, or a corporation's board of directors to grant,
indemnity to directors and officers under certain circumstances for liabilities
incurred in connection with their activities in such capacities (including
reimbursement for expenses incurred). Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a
provision in the certificate of incorporation of each corporation organized
thereunder, including the Company, eliminating or limiting, with certain
exceptions, the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its
shareholders for monetary damages for certain breaches of fiduciary duty as a
director. Article VIII of the Company's By-laws provides that the Company
shall indemnify any directors, directors emeriti, officers, employees and agents
who were or are parties to or threatened to be made parties to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding for liabilities and expenses
incurred by reason of their actions in such capacities on behalf of the Company,
provided that the party seeking indemnification acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that in
the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter as to which such party shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the corporation unless and only to the extent that an appropriate court shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, such party is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the court shall deem proper. The
Company's By-laws also state, among other things, that it is the policy of the
Company to indemnify directors, directors emeriti, officers, agents and
employees of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law. In addition,
the Company maintains an insurance policy designed to reimburse the Company for
any payments made by it pursuant to the foregoing indemnification. Such policy
has coverage of $15 million.
Item 7.        Exemption From Registration Claimed
.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
5            
        Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère &
        Denègre, L.L.P.
23.1       
        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2       
        Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).
Item 9.
Undertakings.
(a)       
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)        To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.
(2)        That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3)        To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(b)       
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)       
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, on July 26, 2001.
TIDEWATER INC.
By:
/s/ Cliffe F. Laborde
Cliffe F. Laborde
Executive Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Cliffe F. Laborde and J. Keith Lousteau, or
either one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying
and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ William C. O'Malley
Chairman
                                            of the Board, President
July 26, 2001
William C. O'Malley
and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ J. Keith Lousteau
Senior Vice President and
July 26, 2001
J. Keith Lousteau
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Joseph M. Bennett
Vice President and
July 26, 2001
Joseph M. Bennett
Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Robert H. Boh
Director
July 26, 2001
Robert H. Boh
/s/ Donald T. Bollinger
Director
July 26, 2001
Donald T. Bollinger
/s/ Arthur R. Carlson
Director
July 26, 2001
Arthur R. Carlson
Director
July __, 2001
Jon C. Madonna
/s/ Paul W. Murrill
Director
July 26, 2001
Paul W. Murrill
/s/ Lester Pollack
Director
July 26, 2001
Lester Pollack
/s/ J. Hugh Roff, Jr.
Director
July 26, 2001
J. Hugh Roff, Jr.
/s/ Donald G. Russell
Director
July 26, 2001
Donald G. Russell