SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


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

        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) March 17, 2004
                                                         --------------


                              BOWATER INCORPORATED
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                             1-8712                       62-0721803
(State or other                   (Commission                   (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                   File Number)               Identification No.)
incorporation)


                             55 East Camperdown Way
                                  P.O. Box 1028
                        Greenville, South Carolina 29602
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (864) 271-7733

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report): Not applicable








ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On March 17, 2004, Bowater Incorporated closed the sale of an aggregate
amount of $250  million of its  floating  rate senior  notes due March 15, 2010,
under  its  effective  shelf  registration  statement  on  file  with  the  U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (Registration No. 333-108166).

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

     1    Underwriting   Agreement,   dated  March  10,  2004,   among   Bowater
          Incorporated  and  UBS  Securities,  LLC,  as  representative  of  the
          underwriters,  and Barclays  Capital  Inc.,  as qualified  independent
          underwriter.

     4.1  Senior Indenture,  dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater  Incorporated
          and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

     4.2  First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater
          Incorporated  and The Bank of New York, as trustee,  providing for the
          issuance of Bowater  Incorporated's  floating  rate  senior  notes due
          March 15, 2010.

     4.3  Form of floating rate senior note (included in Exhibit 4.2).

     5    Opinion of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A.

     23   Consent of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. (included in Exhibit
          5).


                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                   BOWATER INCOPORATED
                                   (Registrant)


Date:  March 17, 2004              By: /s/William G. Harvey
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  William G. Harvey
                                      Title: Vice President and Treasurer


                                   By: /s/Ronald T. Lindsay
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Ronald T. Lindsay
                                      Title: Vice President - General Counsel
                                             and Secretary





                                    EXHIBITS

     1    Underwriting   Agreement,   dated  March  10,  2004,   among   Bowater
          Incorporated  and  UBS  Securities,  LLC,  as  representative  of  the
          underwriters,  and Barclays  Capital  Inc.,  as qualified  independent
          underwriter.

     4.1  Senior Indenture,  dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater  Incorporated
          and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

     4.2  First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater
          Incorporated  and The Bank of New York, as trustee,  providing for the
          issuance of Bowater  Incorporated's  floating  rate  senior  notes due
          March 15, 2010.

     4.3  Form of floating rate senior note (included in Exhibit 4.2).

     5    Opinion of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A.

     23   Consent of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. (included in Exhibit
          5).