SINGAPORE, April 23, 2009 (AFP) - Singapore diversified conglomerate Keppel Corp Thursday said net profit in the first three months of 2009 rose nine percent from a year ago despite a shaky start to the year.

For the first quarter ended March, net profit amounted to S$285.30 million (190 million US) compared with S$261.72 million during the same period in 2008.

Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had predicted an average S$240 million net profit for the quarter.

Revenues grew 34.7 per cent to S$2.98 billion from S$2.21 billion, the company said in a statement.

"The last three months saw a shaky start to 2009, with the global economy still reeling from the effects of last year?s financial and economic turmoil," said chief executive Choo Chiau Beng.

"The outlook for the rest of 2009 remains uncertain. We are drawing on our experience and lessons from past crises to navigate through the present economic storm."

Keppel Corp is one of Singapore's biggest companies with a business portfolio that includes interests in property development, infrastructure as well as the offshore and marine industry.

It is the world's biggest maker of offshore oil rigs. The company said its offshore and marine division has an order book worth S$9.5 billion with deliveries extending into 2012.