Maersk Supply Service is trying to beat the OSV slump by diversifying into seabed mining.
The idea is to help companies dig for copper and nickel.
Head of strategy Jonas Munch Agerskov told Jyllands-Posten that the company will also try to win contracts for plastics cleaning operations at sea.
"We believe that there is financial potential outside traditional oil and gas," said Agerskov.
"This approach makes it possible to separate us from the market where only price matters."
Sea monitoring is also in its sights as it looks to build profit in tough offshore vessel markets.
In June last year, Maersk Supply announced a partnership with wind energy firm Vestas to develop what it called solutions and next-generation technology for the sustainable energy industry.
It has also teamed up with Maersk Oil to offer offshore decomissioning services.
The Maersk group has sold or spun-off three other energy companies, such as Maersk Tankers, but Maersk Supply remains the only one of the quartet of these businesses for which a long-term solution has yet to be found.
