The offshore support vessel (OSV) slump has led Maersk Supply Service to cut costs with redundancies.
The Danish owner said it was laying off 55 staff in a bid to reduce its onshore payroll as the oil price crash and the coronavirus pandemic devastates spot markets in the North Sea.
The redundancies will cut expenses by 30%.
They will take place globally this month and the majority of posts will be lost at headquarters in Lyngby, Denmark.
All onshore functions will be affected.
'Undeserved' for employees
"We realise that the announcement is very unsettling, and indeed undeserved, for our employees," said chief executive Steen S Karstensen.
"However, as we expect a significantly reduced activity level in the oil and gas industry, it is a necessary step to ensure our organisation reflects the current market reality and to safeguard the future of our company."
The company owns 43 anchor-handling tug supply ships, platform supply vessels (PSVs) and multipurpose offshore vessels.
Clarksons lists three vessels as idle, and another 11 as laid up.
A company spokeswoman said that because the AP Moller-Maersk group is in a silent period before its results and has to go through a consultation process, it could not comment further on the nature of the layoffs or how the company is coping in the offshore downturn.
Maersk Supply Service has 1,100 crew members supported by around 250 onshore staff worldwide.
Rates for spot PSVs have slumped to $3,700 per day in the North Sea, with owners rushing to lay up unwanted ships.
