<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-18</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921549</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRICO MARINE SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMAR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260252</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TURBIDY TREVOR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2401 FOUNTAINVIEW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 920</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>William B. Masters, by power of atty.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

