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