A recovering freight market coupled with a rise in fish prices led the company to a pre-tax profit of NOK 431m ($72m), overturning a loss of NOK 41m in the previous year.

Its bulker division Grieg Star contributed NOK 129m to the final figure in 2013, a year which saw the company order two supramax newbuildings.

Operating profit at Grieg Star climbed from NOK 98m to NOK 141m, according to figures released by the company.