UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________ FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 _____________________ Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 15, 2002 TIDEWATER INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-6311 72-0487776 (State of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 601 Poydras Street, Suite 1900 70130 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (504) 568-1010 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) N/A (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE. In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company notes that certain statements set forth in this Current Report on Form 8-K provide other than historical information and are forward looking. The actual achievement of any forecasted results, or the unfolding of future economic or business developments in a way anticipated or projected by the Company, involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Among those risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, are: fluctuations in oil and gas prices; level of fleet additions by competitors; changes in levels of capital spending in domestic and international markets by customers in the energy industry for exploration, development and production; unsettled political conditions, civil unrest and governmental actions, especially in higher risk countries of operations; foreign currency fluctuations; and environmental and labor laws. Readers should consider all of these risk factors as well as other information contained in this report. On April 15, 2002, the Company issued the following press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TIDEWATER PROMOTES REG MCNEE TO POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT NEW ORLEANS, APRIL 15, 2002 -- Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW) announced today that it has promoted Reg McNee, head of the Company's Far East division for the last three years, to the office of Vice President. McNee joined Tidewater in July 1997. He has most recently served as the Company's area manager for its Singapore-based Far East operations, which include Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and Dubai. He will continue to be based in Singapore. McNee previously served as Managing Director of Tidewater Marine Port Jackson, an Australian joint venture company that Tidewater acquired control of in July 1997. Tidewater Inc. owns and operates over 570 vessels, the world's largest fleet of vessels serving the global offshore energy industry. Contact: Keith Lousteau (504) 568-1010 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. TIDEWATER INC. By: /s/ Cliffe F. Laborde ---------------------------- Cliffe F. Laborde Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Date: April 15, 2002