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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) November 21, 2000
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)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On November 21, 2000, the Company issued the following press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tidewater Closes On Purchase of Eight Vessels From Sanko
New Orleans, November 21, 2000 -Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW) announced today
that it has completed the previously announced purchase of eight vessels from
The Sanko Steamship Co., Ltd. for $160 million in cash.
Four of these vessels are large anchor-handling, towing supply boats, each
with a total horsepower of 15,000 bhp. Those are the M/V Leopard Bay, M/V Maersk
Detector, M/V Maersk Dispatcher and the M/V Torm Heron. The remaining four
vessels, all of which are large North Sea type platform supply vessels, are the
M/V Ace Nature, M/V Mercury Bay, M/V Monarch Bay and the M/V Torm Kestrel.
All of the vessels are being purchased subject to existing charter
arrangements previously entered into by Sanko.
"The purchase of these eight vessels complements our ability to service the
deepwater segment of the offshore oil industry," said William C. O'Malley,
chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. "We are preparing
to respond to increasing demand in the deepwater petroleum basins of the world,
and we are looking forward to serving our customers with these high-end
vessels."
Tidewater Inc. owns and operates over 570 vessels, the world's largest
fleet of vessels serving the international offshore energy industry.
CONTACT: Tidewater Inc.
Keith Lousteau, 504/568-1010
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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
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Cliffe F. Laborde
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and
Secretary
Date: November 21, 2000
