<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001019892-04-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031224
<FILING-DATE>20040105
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MAFFUCCI DAVID G
<CIK>0001183957
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08712
<FILM-NUMBER>04506353
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BOWATER INC
<STREET2>55 E CAMPERDOWN WAY
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29601
<PHONE>8642717733
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BOWATER INC
<CIK>0000743368
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2621
<IRS-NUMBER>620721803
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<STREET2>P O BOX 1028
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29601
<PHONE>8642717733
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<STREET2>P O BOX 1028
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29602
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>maf12.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-24</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000743368</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOWATER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOW</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183957</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAFFUCCI DAVID G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 1028</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>296021028</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Exec. V. P. &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-24</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
				<value>2003-12-31</value>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>1.31</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>45.54</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2407.47</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By 401(k)</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>7497.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Sale of securities made by 401(k) Plan Trustee (not volitional by reporting person)</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: William A. McCormick, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
