OFFSHORE engineering group Aker Solutions said yesterday its gross earnings in the first quarter of 2009 had risen 12% on a year earlier at £115.7million, beating market expectations.
Aberdeen-based Aker Offshore Partner’s managing director Rod Buchan said: “Our first-quarter turnover and profitability are in line with the levels achieved in 2008, which represented the company’s most successful year in Aberdeen. While some work associated with new development projects has been deferred, activity on offshore support contracts has remained very strong.
“Another impact of the new environment is that we are seeing increased tender opportunities, as a number of operators take service contracts to the market.
“The lower oil price has stimulated activity in the decommissioning market, and Aker Solutions is currently working on the abandonment of the AH001 floating production unit for Hess, enhancing our position as market leader in this sector.”