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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   FORM 12B-25
                                          Commission File Number 000-28732
                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING
      (Check One): [  ] Form 10-K   [ x ] Form 11-K    [   ] Form 20-F
                   [  ] Form 10-Q   [   ] Form N-SAR

For Period Ended:   DECEMBER 31, 1997
        -------------------------------------------------------------- 
[ ]  Transition  Report  on Form  10-K     
[ ]  Transition  Report  on Form 10-Q 
[ ]  Transition Report on Form 20-F 
[ ]  Transition Report on Form N-SAR 
[ ]  Transition Report on Form 11-K
For the Transition Period Ended:
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     READ ATTACHED INSTRUCTION BEFORE PREPARING FORM. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE.
      Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
verified any information contained herein.

      If the  notification  relates to a portion of the  filing  checked  above,
identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:
                                                 ------------------------ -----
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                         PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Full name of registrant: Hvide Marine Incorporated Retirement Plan and Trust
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Former name if applicable
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Address of principal executive office (STREET AND NUMBER)
  2200 Eller Driver, P.O. Box 13038
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City, State and Zip Code    Ft. Lauderdale, Florida  33316
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                        PART II - RULE 12B-25 (B) AND (C)

      If the subject  report could not be filed without  unreasonable  effort or
expense  and  the  registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule  12b-25(b),  the
following should be completed. (Check appropriate box).

[x]   (a) The reasons  described in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this form
      could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;
[x]   (b) The subject annual report,  semi-annual  report,  transition report on
      Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof,  will be filed on
      or before the 15th calendar day following the  prescribed due date; or the
      subject  quarterly  report or  transition  report on Form 10-Q, or portion
      thereof will be filed on or before the fifth  calendar day  following  the
      prescribed due date; and
[     ] (c)  The  accountant's  statement  or  other  exhibit  required  by Rule
      12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

                              PART III - NARRATIVE

      State below in  reasonable  detail the  reasons  why the Form 10-K,  11-K,
      20-F, 10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof,  could not
      be filed  within the  prescribed  time  period.  (Attach  extra  sheets if
      needed.) DUE TO THE TIMING AND  DIFFICULTY  OF THE  REPORTING  PROCESS AND
      INDEPENDENT  ACCOUNTANT  EXAMINATION,  THE  ADDITIONAL  EXPENSE  WOULD  BE
      UNREASONABLE.   INFORMATION   NECESSARY   TO  COMPLETE  THE  HVIDE  MARINE
      INCORPORATED  401(K)  RETIREMENT PLAN FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES,
      PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED  ACCOUNTING  PRINCIPLES AND
      THE FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF ERISA, CANNOT BE OBTAINED FROM THE
      TRUSTEE  WITHOUT  UNREASONABLE  EFFORT AND  EXPENSE IN TIME TO MEET FILING
      REQUIREMENTS.  THE REGISTRANT NEEDS ADDITIONAL TIME TO FILE A COMPLETE AND
      ACCURATE REPORT WITHOUT  UNREASONABLE EFFORT OR EXPENSE.  THE 11-K WILL BE
      FILED ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 1998 IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 12b-25(b).









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                          PART IV -- OTHER INFORMATION

      (1)   Name and  telephone  number of  person to  contact in regard to this
notification

     John H. Blankley                              (954)    523-2200
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            (Name)                              (Area Code) (Telephone Number)

      (2) Have all other periodic  reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940  during the  preceding  12 months or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant  was  required to file such  report(s)  been filed?  If answer is no,
identify report(s).
                                                        [ x ] Yes     [   ] No
      (3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
from the corresponding  period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?
                                                        [   ] Yes     [ x ] No
      If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated  change,  both narratively
and  quantitatively,  and, if  appropriate,  state the reasons why a  reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.
 HVIDE MARINE INCORPORATED RETIREMENT PLAN AND TRUST ---------------------------
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                  (Name of  Registrant  as Specified in Charter) Has caused this
notification  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the  undersigned  thereunto  duly
authorized.

Date June 29, 1998                         By  /s/ JOHN H. BLANKLEY
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      INSTRUCTION.  The  form  may be  signed  by an  executive  officer  of the
registrant or by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of
the person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature.  If
the  statement  is  signed  on  behalf  of  the   registrant  by  an  authorized
representative   (other   than   an   executive   officer),   evidence   of  the
representative's  authority to sign on behalf of the  registrant  shall be filed
with the form.

                                    ATTENTION
      Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
Violations (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).

                             GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
      1.  This  form is  required  by  Rule  12b-25  of the  General  Rules  and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

      2.  One  signed  original  and  four  conformed  copies  of this  form and
amendments  thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  Washington,  D.C. 20549, in accordance with Rule 0-3 of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Act. The information  contained in or filed with
the form will be made a matter of public record in the Commission files.
      3. A manually  signed  copy of the form and  amendments  thereto  shall be
filed with each national securities exchange on which any class of securities of
the registrant is registered.

      4. Amendments to the  notifications  must also be filed on Form 12b-25 but
need not restate information that has been correctly  furnished.  The form shall
be clearly identified as an amended notification.

      5.  ELECTRONIC  FILERS.  This form shall not be used by electronic  filers
unable to timely file a report  solely due to  electronic  difficulties.  Filers
unable to submit a report within the time period  prescribed due to difficulties
in  electronic  filing  should  comply  with  either  Rule  201 or  Rule  202 of
Regulation  S-T or apply for an adjustment in filing date pursuant to Rule 13(b)
of Regulation S-T.

(Bulletin No. 161, 02-03-95)