The Gunvor Ulstein-led company recorded a pre-tax result of NOK 360.8m ($60.31m) in 2013, beating the NOK 211.4m of a year earlier.

Operating profit tipped the scales at NOK 317.8m, up from NOK 228m in 2012, according to figures released today.

A spokesperson for the shipbuilder and designer says the sale of eight vessels to Nordic American boosted its 2013 performance.

She declines to reveal how much Ulstein banked on the vessels, which it built speculatively at its own facility.

She