Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                              TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is effective as of January
15, 2001 (the "Effective Date"), and is entered into between Torch Offshore,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and Ernest T. "Robbie"
Robinson III, a person of the full age of majority (the "Employee").

         1. Employment and Duties.

         (a) The Corporation agrees to employ the Employee as Vice President,
Business Development, or a similar capacity, as of the Effective Date for the
period set forth in paragraph 1(c) below, unless employment is terminated sooner
as provided herein.

         (b) The Employee accepts employment and agrees to devote his full time
and attention to the performance of his duties as determined, from time to time,
by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

         (c) The Employee shall continue to serve in the employ of the
Corporation until December 31, 2002 (the "Initial Term"), except as provided
herein. Upon the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement may be renewed
for one or more additional one-year term(s) (the "Renewal Term") with the
written consent of the parties hereto.

         2. Compensation. For all services rendered by the Employee, the
Corporation shall compensate the Employee as follows:

         (a) Annual Salary. The Corporation shall pay to the Employee, subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, an annual salary of
$125,000.00, and such amount shall be prorated and paid in accordance with the
Corporation's customary payroll practices.

         (b) Perquisites and Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to receive
in the aggregate substantially the same fringe benefits and perquisites offered
by the Corporation to any of the Corporation's similarly situated employees,
including, without limitation, participation in the various employee benefit
plans or programs provided to the employees of the Corporation in general,
subject to the regular eligibility requirements with respect to each of such
benefit plans or programs.

         (c) Severance. If the Corporation terminates the employment of the
Employee for any reason other than Cause (as defined in paragraph 4(d)), then
the Corporation shall pay to the Employee severance payments of six months of
salary at his then current rate, to be paid in accordance with the Company's
standard payroll practices. The Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that
the Employee shall not be eligible to receive from the Corporation any form of
severance pay or other form of termination benefit, except as expressly provided
in this paragraph 2(c) (other than coverage under COBRA or other form of legally
mandated benefit available after the termination of employment).

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                  Any amount(s) payable under this Agreement shall be subject to
the withholding of such income and employment taxes as may be required by law to
be withheld.

         3. Payment or Reimbursement of Expenses. Subject to compliance by the
Employee with such policies regarding expenses and expense reimbursements as may
be adopted, from time to time, by the Corporation, the Employee shall be paid or
reimbursed for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with the
performance of his duties hereunder and in the furtherance of the business and
affairs of the Corporation. Any such reimbursement shall be made within a
reasonable period after presentation by the Employee of an itemized account of
such expenses, accompanied by appropriate receipts satisfactory to the
Corporation. In no event shall any expense be paid or reimbursed, unless
properly accounted for to the extent necessary to substantiate the Corporation's
Federal income tax deduction under the applicable provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations promulgated
thereunder or any similar state or federal law or regulation.

         4. Termination.

         (a) This Agreement and the Corporation's obligations hereunder shall
terminate as of the conclusion of the Initial Term, unless terminated earlier
pursuant to this paragraph 4 or extended for successive one-year terms as
provided in paragraph 1(c) hereof.

         (b) Either party may terminate this Agreement by providing the other
party with written notice.

         (c) If the Employee dies or becomes totally disabled (as determined by
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation), this
Agreement and the Employee's rights hereunder shall automatically terminate as
of the date of such death or disability.

         (d) The Corporation may terminate this Agreement and the Employee's
rights hereunder at any time for Cause, which shall mean (i) conviction of the
Employee by a court of competent jurisdiction of any felony or a crime involving
moral turpitude; (ii) the Employee's knowing failure or refusal to follow
reasonable instructions of the Board of Directors or reasonable policies,
standards and regulations of the Corporation; (iii) the Employee's continued
failure or refusal to faithfully and diligently perform the usual, customary
duties of his employment with the Corporation; (iv) the Employee's continuously
conducting himself in an unprofessional, unethical, immoral or fraudulent
manner; or (v) the Employee's conduct discredits the Corporation or is
detrimental to the reputation, character and standing of the Corporation; or
(vi) breach of the provisions of paragraphs 5 or 6 hereof.

         5. Covenant Not to Compete. During the term of the Employee's
employment with the Corporation or for a period of six (6) months following any
termination of the Employee's employment by the Corporation, the Employee agrees
that, with respect to the parishes within the State of Louisiana and the
counties within the States of Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi set forth
on Schedule A attached hereto, including the territorial waters of the United
States located offshore of such areas, each of which the Employee stipulates and
agrees that the

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Corporation carries on or intends to carry on a like business, the Employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, for his own benefit or to the detriment of
the Corporation or its affiliates:

         (a) Own, manage, operate, control, or participate in the ownership,
management, operation, or control of a business (however structured) that
carries on or engages in any manner (excluding stock in a publicly held
corporation), in the Pipelay and Subsea Construction Business. For this purpose,
the term "Pipelay and Subsea Construction Business" shall refer to the
installation, laying, and/or burying of transmission lines, trunk lines, and
flowlines, laying of all rigid, flexible, reeled, or coiled tubing and
installing, laying, and/or burying of control, power umbilicals and subsea
communication or power cables, and pipeline tie-ins, pipeline burial, riser
installation and survey, inspection, maintenance, and repair services in
connection with oil and gas pipelines;

         (b) Perform any services similar to the primary services he performed
while employed by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for
any person, partnership, corporation, association, group, or other entity
engaged in the Pipelay and Subsea Construction Business (as defined above),
whether as an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise; or

         (c) Solicit customers or employees of the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates for any purpose or in any manner detrimental to the
Corporation or it business or operations.

                  The parties hereto agree that each of the foregoing
prohibitions is intended to constitute a separate restriction. Accordingly,
should any such prohibition be declared invalid or unenforceable, such
prohibition shall be deemed severable from and shall not affect the remainder
thereof. The parties further agree that the foregoing restrictions are
reasonable in both time and scope.

                  Because of the difficulty of measuring economic loss to the
Corporation as a result of a breach of any of the foregoing prohibitions, and
because of the immediate and irreparable damage that could be caused to the
Corporation for which it would have no other adequate remedy, the Employee
agrees that the foregoing prohibitions may be enforced by the Corporation, in
the event of breach by him, by injunctions, restraining orders, and orders of
specific performance issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Employee
further agrees to waive any requirement for the Corporation's securing or
posting of any bond in connection with such remedies.

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         6. Confidential Information.

         (a) The Employee agrees not to disclose, either while employed by the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or at any time thereafter,
to any person not employed by the Corporation or not engaged by the Corporation
to render services to the Corporation, any confidential information of the
Corporation or its subsidiaries or affiliates learned by the Employee during the
course of his employment by the Corporation. This paragraph 6 shall not preclude
the Employee from the use or disclosure of information known generally to the
public or of information not considered confidential by persons engaged in the
business conducted by the Corporation or from disclosure required by law or
court order. The Employee further agrees that, upon the expiration or
termination of this Agreement for any reason, he will not take with him, without
the prior written consent of the Corporation, any document, magnetic or other
storage media, or any other books, records, files, or confidential or
proprietary information of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates.

         (b) All written materials, records, and documents made by the Employee
or in the possession of the Employee during or after the term of this Agreement
concerning the business or affairs of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries
or affiliates, or other items or property held by or for the Employee, but owned
or used by the Corporation or its subsidiaries or affiliates, shall be the sole
property of the Corporation or such subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be,
and, upon the expiration or termination of the term of this Agreement or upon
the request of the Corporation or such subsidiary or affiliate, the Employee
shall promptly deliver all of such materials, records, documents, or other items
or property that are then in his possession.

         7. Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications
provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered in person or mailed by United States certified
mail, return receipt required, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

             If to the Employee:                 If to the Corporation:

             Ernest T. "Robbie" Robinson III     Torch Offshore, Inc.
             131 Crapemyrtle Road                401 Whitney Avenue, Suite 400
             Covington, Louisiana 70433          Gretna, Louisiana 70056
                                                 Attention: Lyle Stockstill, CEO

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

         8. Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed
in accordance with the substantive local law of the State of Louisiana, without
consideration of the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

         9. Successors. This Agreement shall be assignable by the Corporation,
with the prior written consent of the Employee. The Employee's obligation to
provide services hereunder, being personal to the Employee, may not be assigned
by the Employee.

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         10. Remedies. Each party acknowledges that the other party will have no
adequate remedy at law if the first party violates certain of the terms of this
Agreement, including but not limited to paragraphs 5 and 6, and that the other
party shall have the right, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in
addition to any other rights or remedies it may have, to obtain from any court
of competent jurisdiction, injunctive relief to restrain any breach or
threatened breach hereof or otherwise to specifically enforce the provisions
hereof.

         11. Waiver. No waiver of any obligation, right, or remedy under this
Agreement shall be effective, unless such waiver is made in writing, specifying
the terms of this Agreement subject to waiver and executed by the party to be
charged with such waiver. A waiver by either party of any of his or its rights
or remedies hereunder on any occasion shall not be a bar to the exercise of the
same right or remedy on any subsequent occasion or of the exercise of any other
right or remedy at any time.

         12. Release. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Employee shall not be entitled to receive any severance payment
pursuant to paragraph 2(c) of this Agreement unless the Employee has executed
(and not revoked) a general release of all claims the Employee may have against
the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates with respect to
employment under this Agreement, in a form of such release reasonably acceptable
to the Corporation.

         13. Integration and Amendments. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding, whether
written or oral, relating to such subject matter. No modification or amendment
to this Agreement shall be effective or binding unless in writing, specifying
such modification or amendment, executed by both of the parties hereto.

         14. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation
of this Agreement.

         15. Severability. Should any section, provision, or portion of this
Agreement be declared invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such
section, provision, or portion shall be deemed to be (a) severable from this
Agreement as to such jurisdiction (but not elsewhere) and shall not affect the
remainder hereof and (b) amended to the extent, and only to the extent,
necessary to permit such section, provision, or portion, as the case may be, to
be valid and enforceable in such jurisdiction (but not elsewhere).

         16. Survival of Certain Provisions. The rights and obligations of the
Employee under paragraphs 5 and 6 hereof shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Agreement.

         17. Dispute Resolutions. Except with respect to injunctive relief as
provided in paragraphs 5 and 10, neither party shall institute a proceeding in
any court or administrative agency to resolve a dispute between the parties
before that party has sought to resolve the dispute through direct negotiation
with the other party. If the dispute is not resolved within two weeks after a
demand for direct negotiation, the parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute
through

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mediation. If the parties do not promptly agree on a mediator, the parties shall
request the Louisiana State Bar Association to appoint a mediator in the state
of Louisiana who is qualified as a mediator under the Louisiana Mediation Act,
as amended from time to time. If the mediator is unable to facilitate a
settlement of the dispute within a reasonable period of time, as determined by
the mediator, the mediator shall issue a written statement to the parties to
that effect and any unresolved dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration,
conducted before a panel of three arbitrators in Gretna, Louisiana in accordance
with the employment dispute resolution arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association then in effect. The arbitrators shall have the authority
to order back-pay, severance compensation, vesting of options (or cash
compensation in lieu of vesting of options), reimbursement of costs and
expenses, including those incurred to enforce this Agreement, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, and interest thereon. A decision by a majority of
the arbitration panel shall be final and binding. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrators' award in any court having jurisdiction.

         THIS AGREEMENT was executed in multiple counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, as of the dates set forth below, but to be
effective as of the Effective Date.

EMPLOYEE:                              TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.

/s/ Ernest T. Robinson III             By: Lyle Stockstill
----------------------------------        --------------------------------------
Ernest T. "Robbie" Robinson III
                                       Title: Chairman & CEO
                                             -----------------------------------

Date: 1-15-2001                        Date: 1-15-2001
     -----------------------------          ------------------------------------

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Schedule A - Counties and Parishes in which Competition is Prohibited

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                <C>                        <C>
I.       TEXAS

         Jefferson                          Chambers                   Harris
         Galveston                          Brazoria
         Calhoun                            Aransas
         Nueces                             Cameron

II.      LOUISIANA

         Cameron                            Vermilion                  Lafayette
         Iberia                             St. Mary                   Orleans
         Terrebonne                         Lafourche
         Jefferson                          Plaquemines

III.     MISSISSIPPI

         Hancock                            Harrison
         Jackson

IV.      ALABAMA

         Mobile

V.       FLORIDA

         Escambia                           Santa Rosa
         Pinnellas                          Hillsborough
         Manatee                            Brevard
</TABLE>

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

                  This AGREEMENT is made and entered into this ___ of _____,
2001, by and between Torch Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ___________________ (the "Indemnitee").

                  WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director or an executive officer or
both of the Company;

                  WHEREAS, the Bylaws of the Company provide certain
indemnification rights to directors and executive officers of the Company, and
its directors and executive officers have been otherwise assured
indemnification, as provided by Delaware law;

                  WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial
protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued
service to the Company in an effective manner and Indemnitee's reliance on past
assurances of indemnification, the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement
for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses (whether partial or
complete) to Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law and as set forth
in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued
coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein and Indemnitee's continuing to serve
as a director or executive officer of the Company, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         1. Requirement of Indemnity and Advancement of Expenses. The Company
shall indemnify, and advance Expenses (as this and all other capitalized words
are defined in Section 12) to, Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law in effect on the date hereof, and to such greater extent as
applicable law may thereafter permit. The rights of Indemnitee provided under
the preceding sentence shall include, but not be limited to, the right to be
indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145(b) of the D.G.C.L. in
Proceedings by or in the right of the Company and to the fullest extent
permitted by Section 145(a) of the D.G.C.L. in all other Proceedings.

         2. Expenses as a Witness or Party. If Indemnitee is, by reason of his
Corporate Status, a witness in or a party to and is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to any Matter in such Proceeding, the
Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf relating to each Matter. The termination of any
Matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be
deemed to be a successful result as to such Matter.

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         3. Advancement of Expenses. Indemnitee shall be advanced Expenses
within 10 days after requesting them to the fullest extent permitted by Section
145(e) of the D.G.C.L.

         4. Written Request. To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall submit
to the Company a written request with such information as is reasonably
available to Indemnitee. The Secretary of the Company shall promptly advise the
Board of Directors of such request.

         5. Determination of Entitlement Prior to a Change in Control. If there
has been no Change of Control at the time the request for indemnification is
sent, Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be determined in
accordance with Section 145(d) of the D.G.C.L. If entitlement to indemnification
is to be determined by Independent Counsel, the Company shall furnish notice to
Indemnitee within 10 days after receipt of the request for indemnification,
specifying the identity and address of Independent Counsel. The Indemnitee may,
within 14 days after receipt of such written notice of selection, deliver to the
Company a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted
only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the
requirements of Independent Counsel and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If there is an objection to
the selection of Independent Counsel, either the Company or Indemnitee may
petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of
competent jurisdiction for a determination that the objection is without a
reasonable basis and/or for the appointment of Independent Counsel selected by
the Court.

         6. Determination of Entitlement After a Change in Control. If there has
been a Change of Control at the time the request for indemnification is sent,
Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be determined in a written
opinion by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall give the
Company written notice advising of the identity and address of the Independent
Counsel so selected. The Company may, within 7 days after receipt of such
written notice of selection, deliver to the Indemnitee a written objection to
such selection. Indemnitee may, within 5 days after the receipt of such
objection from the Company, submit the name of another Independent Counsel and
the Company may, within 7 days after receipt of such written notice of
selection, deliver to the Indemnitee a written objection to such selection. Any
objection is subject to the limitations in Section 5. Indemnitee may petition
the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other Court of competent
jurisdiction for a determination that the Company's objection to the first
and/or second selection of Independent Counsel is without a reasonable basis
and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the
Court.

         7. Presumption and Deemed Determination. If a Change of Control shall
have occurred before the request for indemnification is sent by Indemnitee,
Indemnitee shall be presumed (except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement) to be entitled to indemnification upon submission of a request for
indemnification in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement, and thereafter
the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption in
reaching a determination contrary to the presumption. The presumption shall be

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used by Independent Counsel as a basis for a determination of entitlement to
indemnification unless the Company provides information sufficient to overcome
such presumption by clear and convincing evidence or the investigation, review
and analysis of Independent Counsel convinces him by clear and convincing
evidence that the presumption should not apply.

         Except in the event that the determination of entitlement to
indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, if the person or persons
empowered under Section 5 or 6 of this Agreement to determine entitlement to
indemnification shall not have made and furnished to Indemnitee in writing a
determination within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request
therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be
deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
indemnification unless Indemnitee knowingly misrepresented a material fact in
connection with the request for indemnification or such indemnification is
prohibited by law. The termination of any Proceeding or of any Matter therein,
by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification
or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company, or with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that
Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

         8. Fees and Expenses of Counsel. The Company shall pay any and all
reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred acting pursuant to
this Agreement and in any proceeding to which it is a party or witness in
respect of its investigation and written report and shall pay all reasonable
fees and expenses incident to the procedures in which such Independent Counsel
was selected or appointed. No Independent Counsel may serve if a timely
objection has been made to his selection until a Court has determined that such
objection is without a reasonable basis.

         9. Judicial Determination. In the event that (i) a determination is
made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely
made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement, (iii) Independent Counsel has not
made and delivered a written opinion determining the request for indemnification
(a) within 90 days after being appointed by the Court, or (b) within 90 days
after objections to his selection have been overruled by the Court, or (c)
within 90 days after the time for the Company or Indemnitee to object to his
selection, or (iv) payment of indemnification is not made within 5 days after a
determination of entitlement to indemnification has been made or deemed to have
been made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or
in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such
indemnification or advancement of Expenses. In the event that a determination
shall have been made that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section shall be
conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and Indemnitee shall
not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. If a Change of
Control shall have occurred, in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to
this Section, the Company shall have the

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burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or
advancement of Expenses, as the case may be. If a determination shall have been
made or deemed to have been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification,
the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding
commenced pursuant to this Section 9, or otherwise, unless Indemnitee knowingly
misrepresented a material fact in connection with the request for
indemnification, or such indemnification is prohibited by law.

         The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 9 that the procedures and
presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all provisions of this
Agreement. In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 9, seeks a
judicial adjudication to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for
breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the
Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, but only
if he prevails therein. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication
that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification
or advancement of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately
prorated.

         10. Non-Exclusivity. The rights of indemnification and to receive
advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled
under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws, any
agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise;
provided, that this Agreement shall supersede any prior agreements, both written
and oral, between Indemnitee and the Company, with respect to the subject matter
hereof. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or any provision
hereof shall be effective as to any Indemnitee for acts, events and
circumstances that occurred, in whole or in part, before such amendment,
alteration or repeal. The provisions of this Agreement shall continue as to an
Indemnitee whose Corporate Status has ceased.

         11. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement
shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever,
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and, to the fullest extent possible,
the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed so as to give effect and
understandings to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable.

         12. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

                  "Change of Control" means a change in control of the Company
after the date hereof in any one of the following circumstances (1) there shall
have occurred an event required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any
similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of

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1934 (the "Act"), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting
requirement; (2) any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Act) shall have become the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding voting securities without prior approval of at least two-thirds of
the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person
attaining such percentage interest; (3) the Company is a party to a merger,
consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a
consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately
prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board
of Directors thereafter; (4) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at
the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board of Directors.

                  "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who (a) is
or was a director, officer or employee of the Company, or is or was serving at
the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another
Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case
which is controlled by the Company, or (b) is or was serving, at the written
request of the Company or pursuant to an agreement in writing with the Company
which request or agreement provides for indemnification, as a director, officer
or employee of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise not controlled by the Company, provided that if such written request
or agreement referred to in this clause (b) provides for a lesser degree of
indemnification by the Company than that provided pursuant to this Agreement,
the provisions contained in or made pursuant to such written request or
agreement shall govern. References above to "other enterprises" shall include
employee benefit plans and references to "serving at the request of the Company"
shall include any service as a director, officer or employee which imposes
duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer or employee with
respect to an employee benefit plan or its participants or beneficiaries.

                  "D.G.C.L." means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

                  "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who
is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification
is sought by indemnitee.

                  "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees,
retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges,
postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the
types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing
to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in
a Proceeding.

                  "Indemnitee" includes any person who is, or is threatened to
be made, a witness in or a party to any Proceeding as described in Section 1 or
2 of this Agreement by reason of his Corporate Status.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                  "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or member of a law
firm, that is experienced in matters of Company law and neither presently is,
nor in the five years previous to his selection or appointment has been,
retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to
either such party, or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a
claim for indemnification hereunder.

                  "Matter" is a claim, a material issue, or a substantial
request for relief.

                  "Proceeding" includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate
dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other
proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except one
initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement to enforce
his rights under this Agreement.

         13. Notices. Any communication required or permitted to the Company
under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company and any
such communication to Indemnitee shall be addressed to his home address unless
he specifies otherwise and shall be personally delivered or delivered by
overnight mail delivery.

         14. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance
with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any
Company director or officer.

         15. Waiver. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall
be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether
or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

         16. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the
Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights
of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do
everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution
of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to
enforce such rights; provided however, that the Company shall not enforce any of
such rights in any manner or at any time as would prevent or delay payment to
Indemnitee of all amounts owing to him.

         17. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets
of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors, administrators and personal
and legal representatives.

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

         18. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date
hereof and shall apply to any claim for indemnification by the Indemnitee on or
after such date.

         19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

         20. Captions; Headings. The captions and headings appearing herein are
included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the
interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date set forth above.

                                          TORCH OFFSHORE, INC.

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                    ----------------------------

                                              ----------------------------------
                                              [Name]

                                       7

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