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<STREET1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<STREET2>P O BOX 1028
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
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<TEXT>



                                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) September 21, 2005
                               ------------------


                              BOWATER INCORPORATED
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                    1-8712                     62-0721803
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission                 (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)             File Number)              Identification No.)


                             55 East Camperdown Way
                                  P.O. Box 1028
                        Greenville, South Carolina 29602
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (864) 271-7733
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report):  Not applicable

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


<PAGE>



Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Principal Officers.

     On September 21, 2005, the Board of Directors of Bowater Incorporated
unanimously elected Ruth R. Harkin as a Class III director, filling the vacancy
on the Board created by the retirement of Francis J. Aguilar. The committee
assignment for Ms. Harkin has not yet been determined. Ms. Harkin was Senior
Vice President, International Affairs and Government Relations of United
Technologies International from June 1997 to February 2005. Previously she was
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation from 1993 to 1997.


     A copy of the press release announcing Ms. Harkin's election is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1


                                   SIGNATURES

     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.


                                            BOWATER INCOPORATED
                                            (Registrant)



Date:  September 27, 2005           By:              /s/ Ronald T. Lindsay
                                             ----------------------------------
                                            Name:  Ronald T. Lindsay
                                            Title: Senior Vice President -
                                                     General Counsel and
                                                     Secretary


<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBITS

99.1     Press release issued by Bowater Incorporated on September 22, 2005.




</TEXT>
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<FILENAME>f050921exhibit99.txt
<DESCRIPTION>050921 PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                                                Media Contact:

                                                Gordon R. Manuel
                                                Director - Government Affairs
                                                864-282-9448

                                                Analyst Contact:
                                                Duane A. Owens
                                                Director, Finance and
                                                Investor Relations
                                                864-282-9488


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2005

                  BOWATER ELECTS RUTH R. HARKIN DIRECTOR

GREENVILLE, SC - The Board of Directors of Bowater Incorporated (NYSE: BOW)
has elected Ruth R. Harkin to the company's Board. Ms. Harkin recently retired
from United Technologies Corporation where she served as Senior Vice President,
International Affairs and Government Relations since 1997. Previously she was
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation.

         Bowater Incorporated, headquartered in Greenville, SC, is a leading
producer of newsprint and coated mechanical papers. In addition, the company
makes uncoated mechanical papers, bleached kraft pulp and lumber products. The
company has 12 pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea
and 12 North American sawmills that produce softwood lumber. Bowater also
operates two facilities that convert a mechanical base sheet to coated products.
Bowater's operations are supported by approximately 1.4 million acres of
timberlands owned or leased in the United States and Canada and 30 million acres
of timber cutting rights in Canada. Bowater is one of the world's largest
consumers of recycled newspapers and magazines. Bowater common stock is listed
on the New York Stock Exchange, the Pacific Exchange and the London Stock
Exchange. A special class of stock exchangeable into Bowater common stock is
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BWX).


                                      # # #


</TEXT>
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