-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Grrx9SawFOpqc1YudYfdP2e7Bcsfwa/nlcgmwKBxIwAz66+UFr5ibphQR104POHZ
 2m9hEwPS1I5TVOyHgkxK9Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000743368-05-000013.txt : 20050127
<SEC-HEADER>0000743368-05-000013.hdr.sgml : 20050127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050127120837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000743368-05-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050125
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050127
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAFFUCCI DAVID G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183957

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08712
		FILM NUMBER:		05552694

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BOWATER INC
		STREET 2:		55 E CAMPERDOWN WAY
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8642717733

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOWATER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000743368
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPER MILLS [2621]
		IRS NUMBER:				620721803
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1028
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8642717733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1028
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-25</periodOfReport>

    <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></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP &amp; Pres, Newsprint Div</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.295</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-01-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options were granted under the Company's 2002 Stock Option Plan.  The Plan sets forth certain earlier expiration dates upon the option holder's termination of employment or cessation of Board service, as the case may be.  In addition, the exercisability of outstanding options may be accelerated as approved by the committee administering the Plan, and will be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain specified &quot;change in control&quot; events, in which case the options will be automatically purchased by the Company at a defined acceleration price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David G. Maffucci</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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