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):
May 13, 2004 (May 12, 2004)
___________________
TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
000-32855
(Commission File Number)
Delaware 74-2982117
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
401 Whitney Avenue, Suite 400
Gretna, Louisiana 70056-2596
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
(504) 367-7030
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On May 12, 2004, Torch Offshore, Inc. (the
"Company") issued a press release announcing that
the Company has signed a contract with Marathon
E.G. Production Limited to perform work in Malabo,
Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. The contract is
valued at over $12.0 million and is scheduled to
commence immediately. A copy of this press release
is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and
incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PROFORMA FINANCIAL
INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
99.1 Torch Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
May 12, 2004.
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 hereunto duly
authorized.
TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
By: /s/ ROBERT E. FULTON
Date: May 13, 2004 -------------------------
Robert E. Fulton
Chief Financial Officer
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
99.1 Torch Offshore, Inc. Press Release, dated
May 12, 2004.
EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release to:
Analysts, Financial Community, Media
Contact: Bob Fulton (1) 504-367-7030
Bradley Lowe (1) 504-367-7030
Torch Offshore Announces Contract for Alba Project in Africa
with Marathon
New Orleans, Louisiana USA, May 12, 2004
Torch Offshore, Inc. (NASDAQ: TORC) (the "Company")
announced today it has signed a contract with Marathon E.G.
Production Limited ("Marathon") to perform the installation
of five pipelines and an umbilical for the export facility
of the Marathon gas plant extension in Malabo, Bioko Island,
Equatorial Guinea. The contract is valued at over $12.0
million and is scheduled to commence immediately with an
approximate 60-day operation on site with completion
scheduled for October 2004. The Company will utilize a
marine spread made up of the Midnight Brave to perform the
pipelay and umbilical installation and the Midnight Carrier
as a support vessel.
Lyle G. Stockstill, Torch Offshore, Inc. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, commented, "The project award from
Marathon is a match to our strategy to develop our pipelay
business internationally. We have identified other potential
projects in West Africa, and will continue to bid on a
selected manner."
Established in 1978, Torch Offshore, Inc. is involved in
offshore pipeline installation and subsea construction for
the oil and natural gas industry. Torch Offshore, Inc. is
expanding beyond its established shallow water niche market
in order to serve the industry's worldwide growing needs in
the deep waters.
Any statements made in this news release, other than those
of historical fact, about an action, event or development,
which the Company hopes, expects, believes or anticipates
may or will occur in the future, are forward-looking
statements under the Private Securities Litigation Act of
1995. The forward-looking statements in this news release
include statements about the capabilities of the Company's
vessels and the scope of work and contract value related to
the Marathon Alba project. Such statements are subject to
various assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which are
specifically described in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as
other factors that may not be within the Company's control,
including, specifically, oil and natural gas commodity
prices, weather conditions and offshore construction
activity levels. Although the Company believes its
expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it gives
no assurance that the Company's assumptions and projections
will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ
materially from those projected.
PR 04-011
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