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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 31, 2003.</p>
<p ALIGN="RIGHT" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Registration No. 333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</p>
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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Washington, D.C. 20549</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">__________</p>
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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">FORM S-8</p>
</b></font><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt">
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">under</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">__________</p>
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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC.</b></font></p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2"><i>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>
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    <b>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Delaware</b></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><i>
    (State or other jurisdiction</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">of incorporation or organization)</i></font></td>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2"><b>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">76-0494934</p>
    </b><i>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(I.R.S. Employer</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Identification No.)</i></font></td>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="2"><font SIZE="2"><b>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 2200</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Houston, Texas 77042</p>
    </b><i>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Address, including zip code,</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">of Registrant's principal executive offices)</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    </i><b>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Horizon Offshore 401(k) Plan</p>
    </b><i>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Full title of the plan)</p>
    </i>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">__________</p>
    <b>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">William B. Gibbens III</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Executive Vice President and</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">General Counsel</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Horizon Offshore, Inc.</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 2200</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(713) 361-2600</p>
    </b><i>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">including area code, of agent for service)</p>
    </i>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Copy to:</p>
    <b>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">William B. Masters</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carr&#232re &#38 Den&#232gre,
    L.L.P.</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">201 St. Charles Avenue</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100</b></font></td>
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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></b>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</p>
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    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Title of securities</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">to be registered</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 3; border-left-style:solid; border-left-width:1; border-right-style:solid; border-right-width:1; border-bottom-style:solid; border-bottom-width:1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Amount to be</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">registered<sup>(1)(2)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 3; border-left-style:solid; border-left-width:1; border-right-style:solid; border-right-width:1; border-bottom-style:solid; border-bottom-width:1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Proposed maximum</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">offering price per unit</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 3; border-left-style:solid; border-left-width:1; border-right-style:solid; border-right-width:1; border-bottom-style:solid; border-bottom-width:1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Proposed maximum</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">aggregate offering price</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-top-style: double; border-top-width: 3; border-left-style:solid; border-left-width:1; border-bottom-style:solid; border-bottom-width:1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Amount of</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">registration fee</font></td>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">Common Stock</p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
    ($1.00 par value per share).......................</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">1,000,000 shares</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">$4.00<sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">$4,000,000.00</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">$323.60</font></td>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">Preferred
    Stock Purchase Rights<sup>(4)</sup>.........</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">1,000,000 rights</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">--</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">--</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">$ 0.00</font></td>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">Participation
    interests in the</p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">401(k) Plan...................................................</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 3"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
    --</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 3"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">--</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 3"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">--</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 3"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">$ 0.00</font></td>
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<font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="1">
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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.</p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A total of 150,000 shares issuable through the Horizon Offshore 401(k)
  Plan were previously registered on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-74867.</p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
  pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on
  the average of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock on The
  Nasdaq Stock Market on October 30, 2003.</p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Preferred Stock Purchase Rights are attached to and trade with the
  Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such rights, if any, is
  reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because no separate
  consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for such
  securities is included in the fee of the Common Stock.</p>
  <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
  </font><font FACE="TmsRmn 10pt" SIZE="2">
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<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">PART II</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</p>
</b>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The following documents, which have been filed by Horizon Offshore, Inc. (the
&quot;Company&quot;) or the Horizon Offshore 401(k) Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the &quot;Commission&quot;), are incorporated herein by
reference:</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to Section
13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;); </p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All other reports filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year
covered by the Annual Report referred to in (a) above; </p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Common Stock of the Company included in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 22, 1998 and
effective April 1, 1998, by incorporation by reference to the description of
capital stock provided under the heading &quot;Description of Capital Stock&quot; in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-43965);</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights of the Company
included the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 18, 2002
under the Exchange Act relating to the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights of the
Company; and</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Plan's latest Annual Report on Form 11-K filed pursuant to Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All documents filed by the Company and the Plan with the Commission pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the
date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment hereto that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or
that 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 part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statements contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently filed or
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Item 4. Description of Securities.</b> </p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not applicable.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>Not applicable.</p>
    <b>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</p>
<dir>
  <dir>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
  </dir>
</dir>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>The Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the &quot;Certificate&quot;) contains
provisions eliminating the personal liability of the directors to the Company
and its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duties
as directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation
Law. By virtue of these provisions, under current Delaware law a director of the
Company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for a breach of his
or her fiduciary duty except for liability for (a) a breach of his or her duty
of loyalty to the Company or to its stockholders, (b) acts or omissions not in
good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(c) dividends or stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under
Delaware law and (d) any transaction from which he or she receives an improper
personal benefit. In addition, the Certificate provides that if a Delaware law
is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability
of a director, then the liability of the directors shall be eliminated or
limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as amended. These
provisions pertain only to breaches of duty by directors as directors and not in
any other corporate capacity, such as officers, and limit liability only for
breaches of fiduciary duties under Delaware corporate law and not for violations
of other laws such as the federal securities laws.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's By-laws require the Company to indemnify its directors and
officers against certain expenses and costs, judgments, settlements and fines
incurred in the defense of any claim, including any claim brought by or in the
right of the Company, to which they were made parties by reason of being or
having been directors and officers, subject to certain conditions and
limitations.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition, each of the Company's directors has entered into an indemnity
agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the Company has agreed under
certain circumstances to purchase and maintain directors' and officers'
liability insurance. The agreements also provide that the Company will indemnify
the directors against any costs and expenses, judgments, settlements and fines
incurred in connection with any claim involving a director by reason of his
position as director that are in excess of the coverage provided by such
insurance, provided that the director meets certain standards of conduct. Under
the indemnity agreements, the Company is not required to purchase and maintain
directors' and officers' liability insurance if it is not reasonably available
or, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, there is insufficient
benefit to the Company from the insurance.</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></b>Not applicable.</p>
    <b>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Item 8. Exhibits.</p>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
    </b>
        </font>
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    <td width="24" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
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        <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font SIZE="2">5&nbsp;&nbsp;
        </font></p>
        </td>
    <td width="605" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
        <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<font SIZE="2">Internal Revenue Service (&quot;IRS&quot;) opinion on the acceptability of
        the form of the Plan. (In lieu of filing an IRS determination letter
        that the Plan is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue
        Code, the Company has included an undertaking in Item 9(d) hereof to
        submit the Plan to the IRS in a timely manner and to make all changes
        required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan.)<br>
&nbsp;</font></p>
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    <td width="24" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="44" align="left" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
        23.1&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="605" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP<br>
&nbsp;</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="24" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="44" align="left" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
        23.2&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td width="605" valign="top" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
        Consent of Grant Thornton LLP<br>
&nbsp;</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <b>
    <p>Item 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Undertakings.</p>
</b></font><font SIZE="2">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber4" height="439">
  <tr>
    <td width="100%" valign="top" colspan="4" height="30"><font SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="64">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="64">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="86%" valign="top" colspan="2" height="64">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font SIZE="2">
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
    and to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
    regulations promulgated thereunder, a post-effective amendment to this
    registration statement:</font></p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="34">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="34">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="34">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="80%" valign="top" height="34">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;</font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<font SIZE="2">To
    include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
    1933;</font></p>
    <font SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="150">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="150">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="150">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="80%" valign="top" height="150">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font SIZE="2">
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes
        in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the
        maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &quot;Calculation of
        Registration Fee&quot; table in the effective registration statement;</font></p>
    <font SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="64">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="64">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="64">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="80%" valign="top" height="64">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font SIZE="2">
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of
        distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or
        any material change to such information in this registration statement;
</font></p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="79">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="79">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="86%" valign="top" colspan="2" height="79">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font SIZE="2">
    <i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Provided, however</i>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
    apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
    amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
    registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration
    statement.</font></p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="18"></td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="18">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></td>
    <td width="86%" valign="top" height="18" colspan="2"><font SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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 filed for such
    purposes 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 <i>bona fide</i> offering thereof. </p>
</font>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" height="18">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></td>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" height="18">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></td>
    <td width="86%" valign="top" height="18" colspan="2">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<font SIZE="2">(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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>
</font>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="100%" valign="top" height="18" colspan="4"><font SIZE="2">
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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 <i>bona fide</i> offering
thereof.</font><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;<font SIZE="2"></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="100%" valign="top" height="18" colspan="4"><font SIZE="2">
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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.</font><p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;<font SIZE="2"></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="100%" valign="top" height="18" colspan="4"><font SIZE="2">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The registrant will submit the Plan, as amended, to the IRS for a
determination of qualification under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code in
a timely manner and will make all changes required by the IRS in order to
qualify the Plan.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
</font><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2"><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">SIGNATURES</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Registrant</b>. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all 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 Houston, State of Texas, on October 30, 2003.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
</font>
<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="638">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC.</p>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
    <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">By: <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; /s/ David W. Sharp&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
    </u>
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">David W. Sharp</p>
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Executive Vice President and</p>
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Chief Financial Officer</p>
    </font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
    &nbsp;</td>
    <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">POWER OF ATTORNEY</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </b>KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
immediately below constitutes and appoints each of David W. Sharp and Bill J.
Lam, 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 necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby 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 ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
</font>
<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="638" height="570">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="15"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2"><u>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Signature</p>
    </u></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="15"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2"><u>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Title</u></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="15"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2"><u>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Date</u></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Bill J. Lam</p>
    <u>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    </u>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Bill J. Lam</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">President, Chief Executive Officer</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">and Director</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Principal Executive Officer)</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;/s/ David W. Sharp</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">David W. Sharp</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Executive Vice President and</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Chief Financial Officer</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="30" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ J. Louis Frank</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">J. Louis Frank<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="30" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Chairman of the Board</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="30" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Michael R. Latina</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Michael R. Latina<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="60" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="84" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Ken R. LeSuer</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Ken R. LeSuer</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="84" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="84" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ John T. Mills</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">John T. Mills<p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Edward L.
    Moses, Jr.</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Edward L. Moses, Jr.<p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Phil D. Wedemeyer</p>
    <hr noshade color="#000000" size="1">
    <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Phil D. Wedemeyer</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" height="45"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">October 30, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<font SIZE="2">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Plan</b>. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc., as Plan Administrator, has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on it behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on October 30, 2003.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</font><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-width: 0" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber1">
  <tr>
    <td width="50%" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="50%" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium">
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    HORIZON OFFSHORE 401(K) PLAN</font></p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    By:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <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; /s/ David W. Sharp&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>
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    <font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
                                <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">David W. Sharp</p>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center"><font FACE="TmsRmn 12pt" SIZE="2">
    Executive Vice President and
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<p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Chief Financial Officer of</p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc.,</p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">the Plan Administrator</p>
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    <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</td>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form_s-8.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 48266}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HORIZON OFFSHORE INC", "cik": "0001051431", "assigned-sic": "1389", "irs-number": "760487309", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-110167", "film-number": "03970508"}, "business-address": {"street1": "HORIZON OFFSHORE INC", "street2": "2500 CITY WEST BLVD., STE. 2200", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77042", "phone": "7133612600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "HORIZON OFFSHORE INC", "street2": "2500 CITY WEST BLVD., STE. 2200", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77042"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 31, 2003.
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
__________
HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
76-0494934
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 2200
Houston, Texas 77042
(Address, including zip code,
of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Horizon Offshore 401(k) Plan
(Full title of the plan)
__________
William B. Gibbens III
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel
Horizon Offshore, Inc.
2500 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 2200
(713) 361-2600
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
William B. Masters
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre,
    L.L.P.
201 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
Amount to be
registered
(1)(2)
Proposed maximum
offering price per unit
Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price
Amount of
registration fee
Common Stock
($1.00 par value per share).......................
1,000,000 shares
$4.00
(3)
$4,000,000.00
$323.60
Preferred
    Stock Purchase Rights
(4)
.........
1,000,000 rights
--
--
$ 0.00
Participation
    interests in the
401(k) Plan...................................................
--
--
--
$ 0.00
(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)     A total of 150,000 shares issuable through the Horizon Offshore 401(k)
  Plan were previously registered on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-74867.
(3)     Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
  pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on
  the average of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock on The
  Nasdaq Stock Market on October 30, 2003.
(4)     Preferred Stock Purchase Rights are attached to and trade with the
  Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such rights, if any, is
  reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because no separate
  consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for such
  securities is included in the fee of the Common Stock.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have been filed by Horizon Offshore, Inc. (the
"Company") or the Horizon Offshore 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are incorporated herein by
reference:
(a)    The Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to Section
13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
(b)    All other reports filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year
covered by the Annual Report referred to in (a) above;
(c)    The description of the Common Stock of the Company included in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 22, 1998 and
effective April 1, 1998, by incorporation by reference to the description of
capital stock provided under the heading "Description of Capital Stock" in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-43965);
(d)    The description of the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights of the Company
included the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 18, 2002
under the Exchange Act relating to the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights of the
Company; and
(e)    The Plan's latest Annual Report on Form 11-K filed pursuant to Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act.
All documents filed by the Company and the Plan with the Commission pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the
date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment hereto that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or
that 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 part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statements contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently filed or
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate") contains
provisions eliminating the personal liability of the directors to the Company
and its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duties
as directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation
Law. By virtue of these provisions, under current Delaware law a director of the
Company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for a breach of his
or her fiduciary duty except for liability for (a) a breach of his or her duty
of loyalty to the Company or to its stockholders, (b) acts or omissions not in
good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(c) dividends or stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under
Delaware law and (d) any transaction from which he or she receives an improper
personal benefit. In addition, the Certificate provides that if a Delaware law
is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability
of a director, then the liability of the directors shall be eliminated or
limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as amended. These
provisions pertain only to breaches of duty by directors as directors and not in
any other corporate capacity, such as officers, and limit liability only for
breaches of fiduciary duties under Delaware corporate law and not for violations
of other laws such as the federal securities laws.
The Company's By-laws require the Company to indemnify its directors and
officers against certain expenses and costs, judgments, settlements and fines
incurred in the defense of any claim, including any claim brought by or in the
right of the Company, to which they were made parties by reason of being or
having been directors and officers, subject to certain conditions and
limitations.
In addition, each of the Company's directors has entered into an indemnity
agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the Company has agreed under
certain circumstances to purchase and maintain directors' and officers'
liability insurance. The agreements also provide that the Company will indemnify
the directors against any costs and expenses, judgments, settlements and fines
incurred in connection with any claim involving a director by reason of his
position as director that are in excess of the coverage provided by such
insurance, provided that the director meets certain standards of conduct. Under
the indemnity agreements, the Company is not required to purchase and maintain
directors' and officers' liability insurance if it is not reasonably available
or, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, there is insufficient
benefit to the Company from the insurance.
Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
5
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") opinion on the acceptability of
        the form of the Plan. (In lieu of filing an IRS determination letter
        that the Plan is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue
        Code, the Company has included an undertaking in Item 9(d) hereof to
        submit the Plan to the IRS in a timely manner and to make all changes
        required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan.)
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
Item 9.     Undertakings.
(a)            The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)        To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
    and to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
    regulations promulgated thereunder, a post-effective amendment to this
    registration statement:
(i)
To
    include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
    1933;
(ii)          To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes
        in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the
        maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
        Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii)         To include any material information with respect to the plan of
        distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or
        any material change to such information in this registration statement;
Provided, however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
    apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
    amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
    registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration
    statement.
(2)          That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment filed for such
    purposes 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.
(d)            The registrant will submit the Plan, as amended, to the IRS for a
determination of qualification under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code in
a timely manner and will make all changes required by the IRS in order to
qualify the Plan.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURES
The Registrant
. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all 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 Houston, State of Texas, on October 30, 2003.
HORIZON OFFSHORE, INC.
By:
/s/ David W. Sharp
David W. Sharp
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
immediately below constitutes and appoints each of David W. Sharp and Bill J.
Lam, 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 necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby 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,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Bill J. Lam
Bill J. Lam
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
October 30, 2003
/s/ David W. Sharp
David W. Sharp
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
October 30, 2003
/s/ J. Louis Frank
J. Louis Frank
Chairman of the Board
October 30, 2003
/s/ Michael R. Latina
Michael R. Latina
Director
October 30, 2003
/s/ Ken R. LeSuer
Ken R. LeSuer
Director
October 30, 2003
/s/ John T. Mills
John T. Mills
Director
October 30, 2003
/s/ Edward L.
    Moses, Jr.
Edward L. Moses, Jr.
Director
October 30, 2003
/s/ Phil D. Wedemeyer
Phil D. Wedemeyer
Director
October 30, 2003
The Plan
. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc., as Plan Administrator, has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on it behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on October 30, 2003.
HORIZON OFFSHORE 401(K) PLAN
By:
/s/ David W. Sharp
David W. Sharp
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of
Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc.,
the Plan Administrator