The current gloom in the offshore sector notwithstanding, support services provider CH Offshore more than doubled its net profit to US$16.3 million for the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2008, from US$7.1 million for the previous corresponding period. Revenue for the three months also doubled to US$18.2 million from US$9 million. First-half net profit rose at a slower but still strong 57.9 per cent pace to US$30.4 million while revenue rose 64.4 per cent to US$33.6 million. Major contributions came from the four new bigger capacity 12,240bhp anchor handling towing and supply vessels that it took delivery of during 2008, CH Offshore said. Charter rates for these deepwater capable vessels are higher compared to the other older 5,000bhp vessels in the fleet, which it is progressively selling off. The rise in first-half net profit was despite a drop in other income to US$8.6 million from US$10.4 million in the previous corresponding half year. This other income arose from the sale of vessels to third parties and the sale of an investment in an associated company. First-half earnings per share rose from 2.73 US cents to 4.31 US cents. An interim dividend of 0.5 cent per share has been declared.