A Scottish maritime consultancy plans to launch a recruitment drive after recording a 50% increase in new business in January amid strong activity levels in the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Maritime Assurance and Consulting won £690,000 of orders last month, up 50% on the £460,000 recorded in the same period last year.

Graeme Reid, who launched MAC in 2011, said: "I am looking forward to boosting staff numbers by 50%, to include Master Mariners, Naval Architects, Marine Engineers & Electrical Engineers."