The Houston-based contractor earned a quarterly net profit $11.5 million, up from $9.9 million a year earlier and reversing a $10.7 million loss in the previous quarter.

Its revenue increased to $161.2 million relative to $107.3 million in the prior quarter but was still down on $182.5 million in the same period of 2015.

However, Helix still appears on course for a full-year net loss, having seen a loss of $27 million for the first nine months, compared with a year-earlier profit of $26.9