J R Rix & Sons Ltd has announced it will continue its expansion into the offshore wind sector after unveiling a 16 per cent rise in group turnover.
Latest figures show the Hull firm, which started out as ship owners in 1870, saw turnover grow to £494m in the year leading up to December 31, 2012 – up from £425m in 2011.
The group, which now includes fuel distribution, shipping, motor cars, caravan manufacturing and property, last year invested in its first wind farm work boat.
The vessel will be used to carry engineers and equipment to and from offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
Rory Clarke, group board member and managing director of Rix Petroleum – the largest company within the group – said Rix had experienced "a challenging year" but was pleased with the performance.
He said: "Given the state of the UK economy and Europe generally, we were operating in difficult circumstances and are therefore pleased with the results we achieved."
Figures show Rix Petroleum increased sales across the year to £391.7m from £317.8m while Marine Bunkering, which supplies marine fuels to shipping vessels, also saw a small increase in revenue from £74.7m in 2011 to £75m.
Its car retail division, Jordans, also grew sales by £1.3m to reach £11.9m.