<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000941548</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201933</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOSHEE DOUGLAS L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1001 LOUISIANA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3764</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On July 1, 2008, Mr. Foshee, a non-employee director of the Company, received a grant of 3,764 deferred stock units (DSUs) under the Company's 2005 Equity Incentive plan upon his election to the Board of Directors.  Each DSU represents a right to receive one share of Cameron Common stock at the end of the deferred period.  The grant vests in four quarterly increments on August 15, 2008, November 15, 2008, February 15, 2009 and May 15, 2009.  The deferral period runs through July 1, 2011, unless further deferred by the recipient, or upon termination of board service, whichever date is the first to occur.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas L. Foshee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

