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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                                     SENIOR
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



         THIS SENIOR EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into
this 1st day of January, 2001, but is effective for all purposes as of the
Commencement Date (as hereinafter defined), by and between HORNBECK-LEEVAC
MARINE OPERATORS, INC., a Delaware corporation, (the "Employer"), and CHRISTIAN
G. VACCARI, residing at 71146 Riverside Drive, Covington, Louisiana 70433 (the
"Employee").


                                   WITNESSETH:

         1. Employment. Employer hereby employs Employee, and Employee hereby
accepts such employment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement. Employee shall be employed by Employer but may serve (and if
requested by Employer shall serve) as an officer and/or director of its parent,
HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), or any
subsidiary or affiliate of Employer or Parent.

         2. Term. The term of employment under this Agreement shall commence on
January 1, 2001 (the "Commencement Date") and shall continue through December
31, 2003; provided, however, that beginning on January 1, 2004, and on every
third January 1 thereafter (each a "Renewal Date"), the term of this Agreement
shall automatically be extended three additional years unless either party gives
the other written notice of termination at least ninety (90) days prior to any
such Renewal Date. Written notice by Employer shall be solely pursuant to duly
adopted resolution of Employer's or Parent's board of directors or, at such time
as Parent is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the compensation committee of Parent's board of
directors. If Employee is terminated by Employer pursuant to such notice of
nonrenewal, Employer shall pay to Employee as severance pay an amount equal to
one half of Employee's basic annualized salary for the year preceding such
termination and shall continue Employee's medical insurance and other benefits
for six months following such termination. Employee shall have no further rights
or obligations hereunder.

         3. Compensation and Benefits.

                  (a) Employer shall pay to Employee as compensation for all
         services rendered by Employee a basic annualized salary of $200,000
         during the initial three (3) year term of this Agreement (the "Basic
         Salary"), or such other sums as the parties may agree on from time to
         time, payable semi-monthly or in other more frequent installments, as
         determined by the Board (as hereinafter defined). The compensation
         committee of the board of directors of Parent, by providing direction
         through the board of directors of Employer (collectively, the board of
         directors of Parent, the compensation committee of Parent and the board
         of directors of Employer are referred to as the "Board") shall have the
         right to increase Employee's compensation from time to time and
         Employee shall be entitled to an annual review thereof or more
         frequently as determined by the Board. In addition, the Board, in its
         discretion, may,


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         with respect to any year during the term hereof, award a bonus or
         bonuses to Employee; provided, however, Employer shall annually provide
         Employee with a bonus that is at least equal as a percentage of basic
         annualized salary to the maximum percentage bonus provided during the
         same year to any other senior officer of Employer or Parent; provided,
         further, Employer shall annually provide Employee with a bonus as more
         particularly described in Appendix "A" attached hereto, which Appendix
         "A" may be modified, supplemented, or replaced from time to time by
         written agreement between Employer and Employee.

         The compensation provided for in this Section 3(a) shall be in addition
to any pension or profit sharing payments set aside or allocated for the benefit
of Employee in either a tax qualified plan or otherwise.

                  (b) If the Board determines in its sole discretion that
         general economic conditions, the economic conditions of the oil and gas
         industry or the financial condition of Parent require such measures,
         the Board may reduce Employee's compensation hereunder, but in any such
         case by no more nor less than the percentage by which it has reduced
         and only if it reduces concurrently the compensation of all executive
         management and mid-management shore-based employees of Parent and its
         subsidiaries.

                  (c) Employer shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable
         expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties under
         this Agreement; provided, however, that Employee must furnish to
         Employer an itemized account, satisfactory to Employer, in
         substantiation of such expenditures.

                  (d) Employee shall be entitled to such fringe benefits
         including, but not limited to, medical and family insurance benefits as
         may be provided from time to time by Employer to other senior officers
         of Employer; provided, however, that any health insurance shall not
         provide for a preexisting condition limitation, and, provided further,
         that during the term of this Agreement, such fringe benefits shall
         always be equal to, at a minimum, the maximum fringe benefits provided
         in a particular year to any other officer of Employer or Parent other
         than with respect to the grant of an award under any Incentive
         Compensation Plan of Employer.

                  (e) To the extent permitted by applicable law and terms of the
         benefit plans, Employer shall include in Employee's credited service,
         in any case where credited service is relevant in determining
         eligibility for or benefits under any employee benefits plan, the
         Employee's service for any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of Employer
         or for any predecessor thereof. and time served at prior employers.

                  (f) Employer shall provide Employee with an automobile during
         the term of the Agreement. The automobile shall be substantially
         equivalent to the highest value automobile provided to any other
         officer of Employer or Parent. Employer will also pay for auto
         insurance, maintenance and fuel. Employee may use the automobile for
         personal use and will pay all taxes related to such personal use.



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                  (g) Employee shall be eligible to participate in such
         incentive compensation and stock option plans that have been approved
         or may in the future be approved by the shareholders of Parent of
         Employer and administered by the Parent.

         4. Duties. Employee is engaged and shall serve as the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer of (i) Parent, (ii) Hornbeck Offshore
Services, Inc., (iii) Employer, (iv) LEEVAC Marine, Inc. and (v) any other
subsidiaries of Parent that may be formed or acquired. In addition, Employee
shall have such other duties and hold such other offices as may from time to
time be reasonably assigned to him by the Board.

         5. Extent of Services; Vacations and Days Off.

                  (a) During the term of his employment under this Agreement,
         Employee shall devote such of his time, energy and attention to the
         benefit and business of Employer as may be necessary in performing his
         duties pursuant to this Agreement.

                  (b) Employee shall be entitled to vacations and holidays with
         pay and to such personal and sick leave with pay in accordance with the
         policy of Employer as may be established from time to time by Employer
         and applied to other senior officers of Employer; provided, however,
         that Employee shall annually be entitled to the maximum number of
         vacation days and holidays afforded to any other officer of Employer or
         Parent.

         6. Facilities. Employer shall provide Employee with a fully furnished
office, and the facilities of Employer shall be generally available to Employee
in the performance of his duties pursuant to this Agreement; it being understood
and contemplated by the parties that all equipment, supplies and office
personnel required for Employee's performance of duties under this Agreement
shall be supplied by Employer.

         7. Illness or Incapacity, Termination on Death.

                  (a) If Employee dies during the term of his employment,
         Employer shall pay to the estate of Employee such compensation,
         including any bonus compensation earned but not yet paid, as would
         otherwise have been payable to Employee for a period of one year
         following his death and shall continue to provide medical insurance and
         other benefits to which Employee's dependents would otherwise have been
         entitled for the same period. Except for the benefits set forth in the
         preceding sentence and any life insurance benefits included in the
         benefit package provided at such time by Employer to Employee, Employer
         shall have no additional financial obligation under this Agreement to
         Employee or his estate. After receiving the payments and health
         insurance benefits provided in this subparagraph (a), Employee and his
         estate shall have no further rights under this Agreement.

                  (b) (i) During any period of disability, illness or incapacity
         during the term of this Agreement that renders Employee at least
         temporarily unable to perform the services required under this
         Agreement for a period that shall not equal or exceed ninety (90)
         continuous days (provided that a return to full work status of less
         than



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         five full days shall be deemed not to interrupt the calculation of such
         90 days), Employee shall receive the compensation payable under Section
         3(a) of this Agreement plus any bonus compensation earned through the
         last day of such ninety (90) day period but not yet paid, less any
         benefits received by him under any disability insurance carried by or
         provided by Employer. All rights of Employee under this Agreement
         (other than rights already accrued) shall terminate as provided below
         upon Employee's permanent disability (as defined below), although
         Employee shall continue to receive any disability benefits to which he
         may be entitled under any disability income insurance that may be
         carried by or provided by Employer from time to time; Employer hereby
         agrees to provide such insurance on a same occupation basis.

                  (ii) The term "permanent disability" as used in this Agreement
         shall mean "permanent disability" under any long term disability plan
         maintained by Employer that covers Employee. In the absence of such a
         plan, "permanent disability" shall mean the inability of Employee, as
         determined by the Board, by reason of physical or mental disability to
         perform the duties required of him under this Agreement for a period of
         at least ninety (90) days in any one-year period. Upon such
         determination, the Board may terminate Employee's employment under this
         Agreement upon ten (10) days' prior written notice. If any
         determination of the Board with respect to permanent disability is
         disputed by Employee, the parties hereto agree to abide by the decision
         of a panel of three physicians. Employee and the Board shall each
         appoint one member, and the third member of the panel shall be
         appointed by the other two members. Employee agrees to make himself
         available for and submit to examinations by such physicians as may be
         directed by the Board. Failure to submit to any such examination shall
         constitute a breach of a material part of this Agreement.

         8. Other Terminations.

                  (a)

                           (i) Employee may terminate his employment hereunder
                  for any reason whatsoever upon giving at least ninety (90)
                  days' prior written notice. In addition, Employee shall have
                  the right to terminate his employment hereunder on the
                  conditions and at the times provided for in Section 8(d) of
                  the Agreement.

                           (ii) If Employee gives notice pursuant to Section
                  8(a)(i) above, Employer shall have the right to relieve
                  Employee, in whole or in part, of his duties under this
                  Agreement (without reduction in compensation through the
                  termination date).

                  (b)

                           (i) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
                  Employer may terminate the employment of Employee hereunder
                  only for "good cause" (as defined below) and upon written
                  notice.



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                           (ii) As used herein, "good cause" shall include:

                                    (1) Employee's conviction of either a felony
                           involving moral turpitude or any crime in connection
                           with his employment by Employer that causes Employer
                           a substantial detriment, but specifically shall not
                           include traffic offenses;

                                    (2) actions or inactions by Employee that
                           clearly are contrary to the best interests of
                           Employer;

                                    (3) Employee's willful failure to take
                           actions permitted by law and necessary to implement
                           policies of the Board that the Board has communicated
                           to him in writing, provided that such policies that
                           are reflected in minutes of a Board meeting attended
                           in its entirety by Employee shall be deemed
                           communicated to Employee;

                                    (4) Employee's continued failure to attend
                           to his duties as an executive officer of Employer or
                           its affiliates, following written notice from the
                           Board to Employee of such failure; or

                                    (5) any condition that either resulted from
                           Employee's substantial dependence on alcohol, or any
                           narcotic drug or other controlled or illegal
                           substance. If any determination of substantial
                           dependence is disputed by Employee, the parties
                           hereto agree to abide by the decision of a panel of
                           three physicians appointed in the manner specified in
                           Section 7(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

                                    (6) With respect to (2) through (5) above,
                           such circumstances shall not constitute "good cause"
                           unless Employee has failed to cure such circumstances
                           within 10 business days following written notice
                           thereof from the Board identifying in reasonable
                           detail the manner in which the Employer believes that
                           Employee has not performed such duties and indicating
                           the steps Employer requires to cure such
                           circumstances.

                           (iii) Termination of the employment of Employee for
                  reasons other than those expressly specified in this Agreement
                  as good cause shall be deemed to be a termination of
                  employment "without good cause."

                  (c)

                           (i) If Employer shall terminate the employment of
                  Employee without good cause effective on a date earlier than
                  the termination date provided for in Section 2 (with the
                  effective date of termination as so identified by Employer
                  being referred to herein as the "Accelerated Termination
                  Date"), Employee, until the termination date provided for in
                  Section 2 or until the date that is two (2) years after the
                  Accelerated Termination Date, whichever is later, shall
                  continue to receive the salary and other compensation and
                  benefits specified in Section 3, in each case in the



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                  amount and kind and at the time provided for in Section 3;
                  provided that, notwithstanding such termination of employment,
                  Employee's covenants set forth in Section 10 shall remain in
                  full force and effect.

                           (ii) If Employer shall terminate the employment of
                  Employee without good cause effective on a date earlier than
                  the termination date provided for in Section 2, any and all
                  options, rights or awards granted in conjunction with Parent's
                  or Employer's incentive compensation and stock option plans
                  shall immediately vest.

                           (iii) The parties agree that, because there can be no
                  exact measure of the damage that would occur to Employee as a
                  result of a termination by Employer of Employee's employment
                  without good cause, the payments and benefits paid and
                  provided pursuant to this Section 8(c) shall be deemed to
                  constitute liquidated damages and not a penalty for Employer's
                  termination of Employee's employment without good cause, and
                  Employer agrees that Employee should not be required to
                  mitigate his damages.

                  (d)

                           (i) If a Change in Control of Employer, as defined in
                  Section 8(d)(ii) shall occur, and Employee shall:

                                    (1) have his employment constructively
                           terminated by Employer because Employer:

                                             (A) has after the Change in Control
                                    reduced Employee's annual base salary or
                                    potential bonus level or any incentive
                                    compensation or stock option plan benefit
                                    (as in effect immediately before such Change
                                    in Control);

                                             (B) has relocated Employee's office
                                    to a location that is more than 35 miles
                                    from the location in which Employee
                                    principally works for Employer or Parent
                                    immediately before such Change in Control;

                                             (C) has relocated the principal
                                    executive office of Parent, Employer or the
                                    office of Employer's operating group for
                                    which Employee performed the majority of his
                                    services for Employer during the year before
                                    the Change in Control to a location that is
                                    more than 35 miles from the location of such
                                    office immediately before such Change in
                                    Control;

                                             (D) has required Employee, in order
                                    to perform duties of substantially equal
                                    status, dignity and character to those
                                    duties Employee performed immediately before
                                    the Change in Control, to travel on
                                    Employer's business to a substantially
                                    greater extent than is



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                                    consistent with Employee's travel
                                    obligations immediately before such Change
                                    in Control;

                                             (E) has failed to continue to
                                    provide Employee with benefits substantially
                                    equivalent to those enjoyed by Employee
                                    under any of Employer's life insurance,
                                    medical, health and accident or disability
                                    plans and incentive compensation or stock
                                    option plans in which Employee was
                                    participating immediately before the Change
                                    in Control;

                                             (F) has taken any action that would
                                    directly or indirectly materially reduce any
                                    of such benefits or deprive Employee of any
                                    material fringe benefit enjoyed by Employee
                                    immediately before the Change in Control;

                                             (G) has failed to provide Employee
                                    with at least the number of paid vacation
                                    days to which Employee is entitled on the
                                    basis of years of service under Employer's
                                    normal vacation policy in effect immediately
                                    before the Change in Control giving credit
                                    for time served at prior employers;

                                    (2) voluntarily terminate his employment
                           within one year following such Change in Control and
                           such termination shall be as a result of Employee's
                           good faith determination that as a result of the
                           Change in Control and a change in circumstances
                           thereafter significantly affecting his position other
                           than those listed in Section 8(d)(i)(1) above, he can
                           no longer adequately exercise the authorities,
                           powers, functions or duties attached to his position
                           as an executive officer of Employer, Parent or any of
                           their affiliates; or

                                    (3) voluntarily terminate his employment
                           within one year following such Change in Control, and
                           such termination shall be as a result of Employee's
                           good faith determination that he can no longer
                           perform his duties as an executive officer of
                           Employer by reason of a substantial diminution in his
                           responsibilities, status, title or position;

                                    (4) have his employment terminated by
                           Employer for reasons other than those specified in
                           Section 8(b)(ii) within one (1) year following such
                           Change in Control;

then in any of the above four cases, Employee shall have, instead of the rights
described in Section 3(a), the right to immediately terminate this Agreement and
receive from Employer, within fifteen business days following the date Employee
notifies Employer of his constructive or voluntary termination pursuant to this
Section 8(d)(i)(1), (2) or (3) or within three business days of having his
employment terminated under 8(d)(i)(4) above, (A) a lump sum cash payment equal
to three times the amount of Employee's Basic Salary with respect to the year in
which such termination has



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occurred plus three times the amount of any bonus awarded to Employee with
respect to the year immediately preceding the year in which such termination
occurred, provided, however, that if Employee for any reason did not receive a
bonus in the immediately preceding year, Employee shall be deemed for purposes
of this Section 8(d)(i) to have received a bonus in the amount of one-fourth of
his annual Basic Salary for such year, and (B) medical plan coverage and other
insurance benefits provided for himself and his spouse and dependents (to the
extent his spouse and dependents are covered under the medical plan and other
insurance benefits as of the date of Employee's termination of employment) for a
period of three (3) years following the date of Employee's termination of
employment, and (C) any and all options, rights or awards granted in conjunction
with the Parent's or Employer's incentive compensation or stock option plans
shall immediately vest. Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment provided for in this Section 8(d)(i) by seeking other employment or
otherwise. To the extent the provision of any such medical benefits are taxable
to Employee or his spouse or dependents, Employer shall "gross up" Employee for
such taxes based on Employee's actual tax rate (certified to Employer by
Employee), up to 35% (without a "gross up" on the initial gross up). The
obligation to provide this medical plan coverage shall terminate in the event
Employee becomes employed by another employer that provides a medical plan that
fully covers Employee and his dependents without a preexisting condition
limitation.

                           (ii) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
                  Control" shall mean:

                                    (1) the obtaining by any party or group
                           acting in concert (other than current stockholders
                           and warrantholders or their affiliates) of fifty
                           percent (50%) or more of the voting shares of Parent
                           pursuant to a "tender offer" for such shares as
                           provided under Rule d-2 promulgated under the
                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
                           subsequent comparable federal rule or regulation
                           governing tender offers; or

                                    (2) individuals who were members of the
                           Parent's board of directors immediately prior to any
                           particular meeting of any Parent's shareholders that
                           involves a contest for the election of directors fail
                           to constitute a majority of the members of such
                           Parent's board of directors following such election;
                           or

                                    (3) Parent executing an agreement concerning
                           the sale of substantially all of its assets to a
                           purchaser that is not the Employer, Parent or a
                           direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent or the
                           affiliate of Parent; or

                                    (4) Parent's or Employer's adoption of a
                           plan of dissolution or liquidation; or

                                    (5) Parent's executing an agreement
                           concerning a merger or consolidation in which Parent
                           is not the surviving corporation or if, immediately
                           following such merger or consolidation, less than
                           fifty percent (50%) of the surviving corporation's
                           outstanding voting stock is held by persons who were
                           shareholders and/or warrantholders of Parent
                           immediately prior to the merger or consolidation or
                           their affiliates.



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                           (iii) The provisions of Section 8(c) and this Section
                  8(d) are mutually exclusive; provided, however, that if within
                  one year following commencement of a Section 8(c) payout there
                  shall be a Change in Control as defined in Section 8(d)(ii),
                  then Employee shall be entitled to the amount payable to
                  Employee under Section 8(d)(i) reduced by the amount that
                  Employee has received under Section 8(c) up to the date of the
                  Change in Control. The triggering of the lump sum payment
                  requirement of this Section 8(d) shall cause the provisions of
                  Section 8(c) to become inoperative. The triggering of the
                  continuation of payment provisions of Section 8(c) shall cause
                  the provisions of Section 8(d) to become inoperative except to
                  the extent provided in this Section 8(d)(iii).

                  (e) If the employment of Employee is terminated for good cause
         under Section 8(b)(ii) of this Agreement, or if Employee voluntarily
         terminates his employment by written notice to Employer under Section
         8(a) of this Agreement without reliance on Section 8(d), Employer shall
         pay to Employee any compensation earned but not paid to Employee prior
         to the effective date of such termination. Under such circumstances,
         such payment shall be in full and complete discharge of any and all
         liabilities or obligations of Employer to Employee hereunder, and
         Employee shall be entitled to no further benefits under this Agreement.

         9. Disclosure. Employee agrees that during the term of his employment
by Employer, he will disclose to Employer (and no one else) all ideas, methods,
plans, developments or improvements known by him which relate directly or
indirectly to the business of Employer, whether acquired by Employee before or
during his employment by Employer. Nothing in this Section 9 shall be construed
as requiring any such communication where the idea, plan, method or development
is lawfully protected from disclosure as a trade secret of a third party or by
any other lawful prohibition against such communication.

         10. Confidentiality. Employee agrees to keep in strict secrecy and
confidence any and all information Employee assimilates or to which he has
access during his employment by Employer and which has not been publicly
disclosed and is not a matter of common knowledge in the fields of work of
Employer. Employee agrees that both during and after the term of his employment
by Employer, he will not, without the prior written consent of Employer,
disclose any such confidential information to any third person, partnership,
joint venture, company, corporation or other organization.

         11. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. Employee hereby acknowledges
that, during and, in some instances, solely as a result of his employment by
Employer, he has received and shall continue to receive access to confidential
information and business and professional contacts of Employer. In consideration
of the special and unique opportunities afforded to Employee by Employer as a
result of Employee's employment, as outlined in the previous sentence, Employee
hereby agrees as follows:

                  (a) During the term of Employee's employment, whether pursuant
         to this Agreement, any automatic or other renewal hereof or otherwise,
         and, except as may be



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         otherwise herein provided, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly,
         enter into, engage in, be employed by or consult any business which
         competes with the business of Employer by selling, offering to sell,
         soliciting offers to buy, or producing, or by consulting with others
         concerning the selling or producing of, any product or service
         substantially similar to those now sold, produced or provided by
         Employer. Employee shall not engage in such prohibited activities,
         either as an individual, partner, officer, director, stockholder,
         employee, advisor, independent contractor, joint venturer, consultant,
         agent, or representative or salesman for any person, firm, partnership,
         corporation or other entity so competing with Employer. The
         restrictions of this Section 11 shall not be violated by (i) the
         ownership of no more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any
         company whose stock is publicly traded, or (ii) other outside business
         investments that do not in any manner conflict with the services to be
         rendered by Employee for Employer and its affiliates and that do not
         diminish or detract from Employee's ability to render his attention to
         the business of Employer and its affiliates.

                  (b) During his employment with Employer and, except as may be
         otherwise herein provided, Employee agrees he will refrain from and
         will not, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, officer,
         director, stockholder, employee, advisor, independent contractor, joint
         venturer, consultant, agent, representative, salesman or otherwise (1)
         solicit any of the employees of Employer to terminate their employment
         or (2) accept employment with or seek remuneration by any of the
         clients or customers of Employer with whom Employer did business during
         the term of Employee's employment.

                  (c) The parties hereto agree that the foregoing restrictive
         covenants set forth in Sections 11(a) and (b) are essential elements of
         this Agreement, and that, but for the agreement of Employee to comply
         with such covenants, Employer would not have agreed to enter into this
         Agreement. Such covenants by Employee shall be construed as agreements
         independent of any other provision in this Agreement. The existence of
         any claim or cause of action of Employee against Employer, whether
         predicated on this Agreement, or otherwise, shall not constitute a
         defense to the enforcement by Employer of such covenants.

                  (d) The parties hereto agree that if any portion of the
         covenants set forth in this Section 11 are held to be invalid,
         unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, then such portion of
         such covenants shall be considered divisible both as to time and
         geographical area. Employer and Employee agree that, if any court of
         competent jurisdiction determines the specified time period or the
         specified geographical area applicable to this Section 11 to be
         invalid, unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, a lesser
         time period or geographical area which is determined to be reasonable,
         non-arbitrary and not against public policy may be enforced against
         Employee. Employer and Employee agree that the foregoing covenants are
         appropriate and reasonable when considered in light of the nature and
         extent of the business conducted by Employer.

         12. Specific Performance. Employee agrees that damages at law will be
an insufficient remedy to Employer if Employee violates the terms of Sections 9,
10 or 11 of this Agreement and that Employer would suffer irreparable damage as
a result of such violation. Accordingly, it is agreed that Employer shall be
entitled, upon application to a court of competent jurisdiction, to



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obtain injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of such Sections, which
injunctive relief shall be in addition to any other rights or remedies available
to Employer. In the event either party commences legal action relating to the
enforcement of the terms of Sections 9, 10 or 11 of this Agreement, the
prevailing party in such action shall be entitled to recover from the other
party all of the costs and expenses in connection therewith, including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (both at trial and in appellate
proceedings).

         13. Compliance with Other Agreements. Employee represents and warrants
that the execution of this Agreement by him and his performance of his
obligations hereunder will not conflict with, result in the breach of any
provision of or the termination of or constitute a default under any agreement
to which Employee is a party or by which Employee is or may be bound.

         14. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by Employer of a breach of any of the
provisions of this Agreement by Employee shall not be construed as a waiver of
any subsequent breach by Employee.

         15. Binding Effect; Assignment. The rights and obligations of Employer
under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of Employer. This Agreement is a personal employment
contract and the rights, obligations and interests of Employee hereunder may not
be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated.

         16. Indemnification. Employee shall be entitled throughout the term of
this Agreement and thereafter to indemnification by Parent and Employer in
respect of any actions or omissions as an employee, officer or director of
Parent, Employer (or any successor thereof) to the fullest extent permitted by
law. Parent and Employer also agree to obtain directors and officers (D&O)
insurance in a reasonable amount determined by the Board and to maintain such
insurance during the term of this Agreement (as such Agreement may be extended
from time to time) and for a period of twelve (12) months following the
termination of this Agreement, as so extended.

         17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with
respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be changed only by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom any waiver, change,
amendment, modification or discharge is sought.

         18. Construction and Interpretation.

                  (a) The Board shall have the sole and absolute discretion to
         construe and interpret the terms of this Agreement, unless another
         individual or entity is charged with such responsibility.

                  (b) This Agreement shall be construed pursuant to and governed
         by the laws of the State of Louisiana (but any provision of Louisiana
         law shall not apply if the application of such provision would result
         in the application of the law of a state or jurisdiction other than
         Louisiana).



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                  (c) The headings of the various sections in this Agreement are
         inserted for convenience of the parties and shall not affect the
         meaning, construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

                  (d) Any provision of this Agreement that is determined by a
         court of competent jurisdiction to be prohibited, unenforceable or not
         authorized in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
         ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, unenforceability or
         non-authorization without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof
         or affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of such provision
         in any other jurisdiction. In any such case, such determination shall
         not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and the remaining
         provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If
         any provision or term of this Agreement is susceptible to two or more
         constructions or interpretations, one or more of which would render the
         provision or term void or unenforceable, the parties agree that a
         construction or interpretation that renders the term or provision valid
         shall be favored.

         19. Notice. All notices that are required or may be given under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
received if personally delivered; when transmitted if transmitted by telecopy or
similar electronic transmission method; one working day after it is sent, if
sent by recognized expedited delivery service; and five days after it is sent,
if mailed, first class mail, certified mail, return receipt requested, with
postage prepaid. In each case notice shall be sent to:


         To Employer:

         HORNBECK-LEEVAC Marine Operators, Inc.
         414 N. Causeway Blvd.
         Mandeville, LA 70448


         To Employee at his address herein first above written.

         20. Venue; Process. The parties to this Agreement agree that
jurisdiction and venue in any action brought pursuant to this Agreement to
enforce its terms or otherwise with respect to the relationships between the
parties shall properly lie in the 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of
St. Tammany or in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Louisiana, New Orleans Division, New Orleans Office. Such jurisdiction and venue
are merely permissive; jurisdiction and venue shall also continue to lie in any
court where jurisdiction and venue would otherwise be proper.







                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]





                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the
day and year first above written.



                                        EMPLOYER:

                                        HORNBECK-LEEVAC MARINE OPERATORS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ TODD M. HORNBECK
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Todd M. Hornbeck
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: President
                                              ----------------------------------


                                        EMPLOYEE:


                                        /s/ CHRISTIAN G. VACCARI
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        CHRISTIAN G. VACCARI


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO FOR
PURPOSES OF GUARANTEEING THE
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYER
TO EMPLOYEE:

HORNBECK-LEEVAC MARINE SERVICES, INC.


By: /s/ TODD M. HORNBECK
   -------------------------------------
Name:  Todd M. Hornbeck
     -----------------------------------
Title: President
      ----------------------------------


<PAGE>   14

                                   APPENDIX A


         Employer shall annually provide Employee with a bonus that is at least
equal as a percentage of Basic Salary as is determined by comparing the actual
Parent (i) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization
calculated on a consolidated basis with Parent's subsidiaries (the "EBITDA") and
(ii) fully diluted earnings per share (the "EPS"), such actual Parent EBITDA and
EPS performance, to be derived from audited financial statements of Parent and
its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP"), taking into account accruals for such bonuses
for Employee and other employees of Employer, to their respective Parent EBITDA
and EPS targets set in advance by the Board (each referred to herein as a
"Target" and collectively, as the "Targets") for each fiscal year under the term
of this Agreement as contemplated below.

         Employer and Employee agree that targets are to be aggressively set by
the Board such that the bonus incentives for Employee are aligned with Parent
shareholder goals for each fiscal year. Fifty percent (50%) of the bonus shall
be based upon a percentage comparison of actual Parent EBITDA performance to the
EBITDA Target for such fiscal year, and the remaining fifty percent (50%) shall
be based upon a percentage comparison of actual Parent EPS performance to the
EPS Target for such fiscal year.

         Bonus awards for each Target based upon such percentage comparisons are
as follows:

                           (i) achievement of eighty percent (80%) of Target
                  earns a bonus of twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of Basic
                  Salary;

                           (ii) achievement of one hundred percent (100%) of
                  Target earns a bonus of fifty percent (50%) of Basic Salary;
                  and

                           (iii) achievement of one hundred fifty percent (150%)
                  of Target earns a bonus of one hundred percent (100%) of Basic
                  Salary.

Bonuses for Target achievement percentages (i) greater than eighty percent (80%)
and less than one hundred percent (100%) and (ii) greater than one hundred
percent (100%) but less than one hundred fifty percent (150%) shall be
determined by the Board using a curve which is a straight line connecting eighty
percent (80%) and one hundred percent (100%) and another line connecting one
hundred percent (100%) and one hundred fifty percent (150%). Notwithstanding the
above, the Board, in its sole discretion, may award a bonus to Employee for a
Target achievement percentage that is less than eighty percent (80%), and the
Board, in its sole discretion, may award an additional


<PAGE>   15

bonus to Employee for a Target achievement percentage in excess of one hundred
fifty percent (150%).

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Year 2001 Target for Parent EBITDA
performance shall be $21,700,000 and for Parent EPS performance shall be $0.22
per share. Based upon the RBC Dominion Securities prepared offering memorandum
projections, the Year 2002 Target for Parent EBITDA performance shall be
$35,200,000 and for Parent EPS performance shall be $0.36 per share.


                                        EMPLOYER:

                                        HORNBECK-LEEVAC MARINE OPERATORS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ TODD M. HORNBECK
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Todd M. Hornbeck
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: President
                                              ----------------------------------


                                        EMPLOYEE:


                                        /s/ CHRISTIAN G. VACCARI
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        CHRISTIAN G. VACCARI


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO FOR
PURPOSES OF GUARANTEEING THE
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYER
TO EMPLOYEE:

HORNBECK-LEEVAC MARINE SERVICES, INC.


By: /s/ TODD M. HORNBECK
   -------------------------------------
Name:  Todd M. Hornbeck
     -----------------------------------
Title: President
      ----------------------------------