Boskalis booked record sales of €3.1bn in 2012 but net profit fell slightly to €250m, the dredging and maritime services group said on Thursday.

The market remains challenging because the global economy is not yet picking up, the company said in a statement.

Chief executive Peter Berdowski described 2012 as a ‘fine’ year, because earnings had remained stable. ‘No material change is expected in market conditions in 2013, with volumes and margins remaining under pressure,’ he said.

The company is currently in the process of buying sea transport group Dockwise and hopes to have finalized the deal within three weeks.