<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000743368-04-000004
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040102
<FILING-DATE>20040106
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>EVANS RICHARD B
<CIK>0001270093
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08712
<FILM-NUMBER>04511003
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O BOATWATER INC
<STREET2>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29601
</MAIL-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>c0001270093d20040106f4s1f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000743368</issuerCik><issuerName>BOWATER INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001270093</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>EVANS RICHARD B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>POST OFFICE BOX 1028</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>29602-1028</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock   Units</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>165.28</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>46.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>165.28</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>165.28</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These phantom stock units were allocated under the Deferred Compensaton Plan For Outside Directors (the "Directors Plan").  The Directors Plan provides for settlement of the phantom stock units in cash, Company common stock (on a 1-for-1 basis), or a combination of the two following the director's ceasing to be an outside director of the Company.  Phantom stock units included in this total not otherwise accounted for by a transaction on this form were allocated under the dividend reinvestment feature of the Directors Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">1 for 1</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David G. Maffucci, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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