It banked $383.6m to 31 March, from $333m a year ago, and said conditions remained difficult due to the low oil price.

The company has struck deals with key customers to accept lower rates in return for more fixed contract coverage.

And its "resiliency factors" aided its performance, according to CEO Christian Lefevre.

He said: "Bourbon has proactively responded to both the customers’ requirements for lowering their cost of operation and to the impact of reduced utilisation rates on Bourbon operating costs."

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