Dredging and maritime services company Boskalis booked net profit of €490m last year, up over one-third on 2013. Turnover was up 1% at €3.2bn, despite difficult conditions in the offshore energy sector. The company’s order portfolio was stable with €3.3bn.

Chief executive Peter Berdowski described the results as ‘fantastic’ but declined to comment on the company’s plans for its stake in Fugro.

Fugro, which carries out underground and sea bed surveys, has been the subject of much takeover speculation since Boskalis announced its interest, now 20%, last year.

On Wednesday it emerged that Boskalis plans to use the courts to try and have Fugro’s defences against hostile takeovers removed.