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                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.4

                              SIMMONS & COMPANY
                                INTERNATIONAL

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                  CONSENT OF SIMMONS & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL

Houston, Texas
February 5, 1996

     We hereby consent to: (i) the inclusion as an Appendix to the Registration
Statement related to the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of Tidewater Inc.
with Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. ("Hornbeck") on form S-4 (the "Tidewater
S-4") of our letter dated December 21, 1995 regarding our opinion as to the
fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of common
stock of Hornbeck of the consideration to be received by such holders; and (ii)
the use of certain information from such letter in the Tidewater S-4; and (iii)
inclusion as an Appendix to such Registration Statement of our letter dated
February 5, 1996 regarding confirmation of our opinion.

SIMMONS & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL

/s/ NICHOLAS L. SWYKA
    Nicholas L. Swyka
    Managing Director

       700 LOUISIANA, SUITE 5000 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-2753 (713) 236-9999
                              FAX: (713) 223-7800

