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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3



                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Form S-4 to be filed on or about May 19, 1998 of our report
dated June 27, 1997, except with respect to items described in Note 1,
"Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements" for which the date is
March 3, 1998, on the financial statements of the Predecessor Company for the
four months ended April 30, 1996, of Hercules Offshore Corporation as of and for
the eight months ended December 31, 1996 and of our report dated June 27, 1997
on the financial statements of Hercules Rig Corp. as of December 31, 1996 and
1995, and for the period from inception, April 6, 1994, through December 31,
1994, and for each of the two year periods ended December 31, 1996, and to all
references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement.



Arthur Andersen LLP

Houston, Texas
May 18, 1998