Trico Reports First Quarter Results and Favorable Outlook for Subsea Sector


THE WOODLANDS, Texas, May 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trico Marine Services,
Inc. (Nasdaq:TRMA) (the "Company" or "Trico") today announced its financial
results for the first quarter of 2009 of revenues of $121.8 million and a net
loss of $0.04 per diluted share, which includes the effect of a non-cash gain
of $10.8 million (pre-tax) on conversion of our 6.5% convertible debt and a
one-time $18.6 million tax benefit related to a change in Norwegian tax law. 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph S. Compofelice, commented, "Our
first quarter results were adversely affected by the sharp decline in day rates
and utilization in our Towing and Supply segment in the North Sea and U.S. Gulf
of Mexico, lower utilization of our Subsea Services vessels and lower activity
in our Subsea Trenching and Protection segment both due to seasonality and
vessels in transit. Since the beginning of 2009, we have reduced our exposure
to the North Sea by mobilizing two of our Subsea Trenching and Protection
vessels to commence new contracts in China and Australia, expanded the scope of
work related to contracts in the Mediterranean and completed the sale of a
North Sea PSV for $26 million. Importantly, each of the 16 vessels at DeepOcean
and CTC Marine are now earning revenue under contracts of various lengths at
margins consistent with those realized in 2008, and we expect this to translate
into improved operating results in the second and third quarters. We continue
to see the fundamentals of subsea sector growth remaining strong in the second
and third quarters of 2009." 

"In addition," Mr. Compofelice continued, "we have recently taken steps to
reduce our debt and capital expenditure commitments to strengthen our balance
sheet for the remainder of 2009 and we will continue to aggressively pursue
further reductions and refinancing of debt." 

Liquidity Outlook

Since the beginning of 2009 and through the date of this release, the Company
has, through a series of transactions, continued to delever and to reduce its
capital expenditures as follows: 


 * Reduced by $25 million the amount due on the 6.5% convertible
   senior notes through holder conversions for $6.9 million in make-
   whole interest payments and the issuance of 0.6 million shares;
 * Closed the sale of a North Sea PSV for gross proceeds of $26
   million, of which $15 million was used to pay down debt; and
 * Terminated the obligation to fund the construction of a new vessel,
   the Deep Cygnus, when financing terms were not favorable to the
   Company - reducing the Company's capital expenditure obligation by
   an additional $42 million.

The transactions referred to above have reduced the face value of debt by
approximately $40 million. 

At March 31, 2009, the Company had $60.5 million in cash and $702.9 million in
net debt. During the first quarter of 2009, the Company converted $23 million
of convertible debt into equity and drew down $31 million under its credit
facilities. The Company realized a gain on the conversion of debt of $10.8
million. 

At March 31, 2009, taking into account the cancellation of its funding
obligation related to the Deep Cygnus, the Company's cash and credit
availability to fund capital expenditures was $146 million. Committed capital
expenditures through the end of 2011 have been reduced to $136 million. 

Summary Results

Total revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $121.8 million, compared to
$177.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and EBITDA was $2.5 million
compared to $30.3 million for the same period. Contributing to the decrease
from the fourth quarter was weakness in the spot markets in the U.S. Gulf of
Mexico and the North Sea, lower utilization of Subsea Trenching and Protection
vessels due to lower ploughing activity and the mobilization of two vessels in
order to commence new contracts in China and Australia. Also contributing to
the lower utilization in the Subsea Services segment was the Company's decision
not to market the Atlantic Challenger, a 120 meter subsea services vessel, in
the first quarter in preparation for a long-term contract in China, which was
recently awarded. 

Partially offsetting the reduction in revenues outlined above was a decrease in
expenses of $28.3 million driven by overall lower activity and the Company's
ongoing efforts to reduce costs. These efforts included reducing personnel in
the U.S. operations and consolidating offices internationally. 

Division Results

In the Company's Subsea Services segment, principally DeepOcean, operating
results were below the Company's expectations due to exceptional seasonal
softness in the North Sea, completion of projects in the fourth quarter and the
decision not to market a vessel in the first quarter in preparation of a
long-term contract which commenced in April 2009. 

In March 2009, the Company took title to one newbuild, the first of eight
multi-purpose platform supply vessels acquired through our purchase of Active
Subsea, with the second vessel due in July. The delivered vessel is expected to
commence a three-year contract during the second quarter. The Company also
expects delivery, on a five-year time charter, of a Brazilian newbuild, which
will replace the existing front runner at substantially lower costs on a
two-year contract with Petrobras. 

In the Company's Subsea Trenching and Protection segment, CTC Marine, as
expected, experienced a seasonally slow quarter, primarily resulting from less
ploughing activity and the mobilization of two vessels to China and Australia,
both of which are now earning revenues under contract. 

Pricing for our subsea segments' contracts remains consistent with pricing
received in 2008. For the Towing and Supply segment, day rates and utilization
reflected the weakness in the North Sea and U.S. Gulf of Mexico spot markets. 

Market Outlook

Looking forward, the Company anticipates results to improve in the second and
third quarters of 2009 due to recently announced developments which include: 


 * Receiving a six-month contract for the Atlantic Challenger in China
   which commenced in April, totaling $25 million in anticipated
   revenues;
 * Expanding a current contract in the Mediterranean resulting in the
   expected total value of the contract increasing from $20 million to
   $32 million;
 * Receiving an additional contract for the installation of a life of
   field seismic (LoFS) system in the North Sea for Ekofisk,
   commencing March 2010 for $23 million in anticipated revenues;
 * Being awarded a $12 million contract for the Assister which
   recently began ploughing related work in China;
 * Securing the Normand Flower for subsea services work totaling over
   $7 million in anticipated revenues through August 2009;
 * Utilizing the Northern River from the Company's North Sea towing
   and supply fleet for subsea services contract work for over $8
   million in anticipated revenues. The vessel now operates
   permanently with a DeepOcean ROV spread on board;
 * Extending work for the Deep Endeavour totaling almost $6 million in
   anticipated revenues through at least the end of the third quarter
   for IMR work for Pemex.

The Company's backlog remains healthy at approximately $0.9 billion of termed
out or long-term contracts spread across all segments. In the first quarter of
2009, approximately 90% of our business was with major or national oil
companies and 95% of the Company's business was in international waters. 

Conference Call Information

The Company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 5,
2009, to discuss the results with analysts, investors and other interested
parties. Individuals who wish to participate in the conference call should dial
(877) 874-1588, access code 8478768, in the United States or (719) 325-4825,
access code 8478768, from outside the country. 

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until May 19,
2009, starting approximately 1 hour after the completion of the call, and can
be accessed by dialing (888) 203-1112 access code 8478768 (international calls
should use (719) 457-0820, access code 8478768). 

About Trico

Trico Marine is an integrated provider of subsea, trenching and marine support
vessels and services. The Company has increased its subsea market presence
through its acquisition of DeepOcean and CTC Marine in 2008, a recognized
market leader in the provision of high-quality subsea services including IMR,
survey and construction support, subsea intervention and decommissioning,
marine trenching and the laying and burying of subsea cable. DeepOcean controls
a well-equipped fleet of vessels and operates a fleet of modern ROVs and
trenching equipment. Trico Marine also continues to provide a broad range of
marine support services to the oil and gas industry through use of its
diversified fleet of vessels including the transportation of drilling
materials, supplies and crews to drilling rigs and other offshore facilities;
towing drilling rigs and equipment; and support for the construction,
installation, repair and maintenance of offshore facilities. Trico Marine is
headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas and has a global presence with operations
in the North Sea, West Africa, Mexico, Brazil, the Mediterranean and Southeast
Asia as well as the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. 

For more information about Trico Marine Services, Inc. visit us on the web at
www.tricomarine.com. 

The Trico Marine Services, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5229 

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be
"forward looking statements." Forward-looking statements are projections of
events, revenues, income, future economic performance or management's plans and
objectives for the Company's future operations. Actual events may differ
materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. There are a
number of important factors involving risks (known and unknown) and
uncertainties beyond the control of the Company that could cause actual events
to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These risks, by way of example and not in limitation, include the
Company's objectives, business plans or strategies, and projected or
anticipated benefits or other consequences of such plans or strategies; the
Company's ability to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on
acceptable terms, including with respect to refinancing debt maturing in the
next twelve months; the Company's ability to continue to service, and to comply
with our obligations under, our credit facilities and our other indebtedness,
including our obligation to pay make-whole amounts upon any conversion of our
convertible debentures due 2028; projections involving revenues, operating
results or cash provided from operations, or the Company's anticipated capital
expenditures or other capital projects; overall demand for and pricing of the
Company's vessels; changes in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and
development; the Company's ability to successfully or timely complete its
various vessel construction projects; the possible impairment of the Company's
investments related to the Deep Cygnus; further reductions in capital spending
budgets by customers; further decline in oil and natural gas prices; projected
or anticipated benefits from acquisitions; increases in operating costs; the
inability to accurately predict vessel utilization levels and day rates;
variations in global business and economic conditions; the results, timing,
outcome or effect of pending or potential litigation and our intentions or
expectations with respect thereto and the availability of insurance coverage in
connection therewith; and the Company's ability to repatriate cash from foreign
operations if and when needed. A further description of risks and uncertainties
relating to Trico Marine Services, Inc. and its industry and other factors,
which could affect the Company's results of operations or financial condition,
are included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Trico
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of
this report. These results should be considered preliminary until the Company
files its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to operating loss:


                                               Three Months Ended
                                              --------------------
                                              March 31,   Dec. 31,
                                                 2009       2008
                                              ---------  ---------
                                                 (In thousands)

 Adjusted EBITDA                              $   2,476  $  30,259
 Impairments                                         --   (172,840)(1)
 Amortization of non-cash deferred revenues         140         69
 Gain (loss) on sale of assets                        9        (61)
 Stock-based compensation                          (724)      (715)
 Depreciation and amortization                  (18,072)   (20,104)
                                              ---------  ---------
 Operating loss                               $ (16,171) $(163,392)
                                              =========  =========


 (1) Includes impairment of goodwill and tradenames based on the
 Company's annual impairment analysis under Statement of Financial
 Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."


           TRICO MARINE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                Consolidated Statements of Income
                           (Unaudited)
             (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                               ----------------------
                                                 Three Months Ended
                                               ----------------------
                                                March 31,  December 31,
                                                  2009        2008
                                               ----------  ----------

 Revenues                                      $  121,819  $  177,871

 Operating expenses:
    Direct operating expenses                      98,488     124,942
    General and administrative                     21,439      23,316
    Depreciation and amortization expense          18,072      20,104
    Impairments                                        --     172,840
    (Gain) loss on sale of assets                      (9)         61
                                               ----------  ----------
 Total operating expenses                         137,990     341,263

 Operating loss                                   (16,171)   (163,392)

 Interest income                                    1,072       2,497
 Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized     (10,914)    (14,859)
 Change in fair value of embedded derivative          939      23,448
 Gain on conversion of debt                        10,779       9,008
 Other expense, net                                  (730)       (449)
                                               ----------  ----------

 Loss before income taxes                         (15,025)   (143,747)
 Income tax (benefit) expense                     (15,028)      5,362
                                               ----------  ----------

 Net income (loss)                                      3    (149,109)

 Less:  Net loss attributable to the
  noncontrolling interest                            (750)     (1,554)
                                               ----------  ----------

 Net loss attributable to Trico Marine
  Services, Inc.                               $     (747) $ (150,663)
                                               ==========  ==========

 Loss per common share:
 Basic                                         $    (0.04) $   (10.10)
                                               ==========  ==========
 Diluted                                       $    (0.04) $   (10.10)
                                               ==========  ==========

 Weighted average shares outstanding:
 Basic                                             16,711      14,924
                                               ==========  ==========
 Diluted                                           16,711      14,924
                                               ==========  ==========

 Cash Flow Data (Unaudited):
    Cash provided by (used in) operating
     activities                                $  (15,418) $    7,942
    Cash used in investing activities             (18,743)    (24,960)
    Cash provided by (used in) financing
     activities                                    (1,307)     33,337
    Capital expenditures                          (19,557)    (29,245)
                                               ----------------------


                                               ----------  ----------
 Balance Sheet Data:                            March 31,  December 31,
                                                  2009        2008
                                               ----------  ----------
                                               (Unaudited)

 Cash and cash equivalents                     $   60,504  $   94,613
 Total assets                                   1,158,050   1,202,736
 Total short-term debt                            210,942      82,982
 Total long-term debt                             
  (including derivative liability)                552,477     688,217
 Total liabilities                                941,842   1,001,856
 Total equity                                     216,208     200,880



          TRICO MARINE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               Consolidating Statements of Income
                          (Unaudited)
                         (In thousands)

                          Three Months Ended March 31, 2009
                -----------------------------------------------------
                                       Subsea    Corporate
                                      Trenching     &
                Towing and  Subsea      and      Elimina-
                 Supply    Services   Protection  tions       Total
                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Revenues       $  37,122  $  59,332  $  26,050  $    (685) $ 121,819

 Operating
  expenses:
   Direct
    operating
    expenses       26,812     51,925     20,436       (685)    98,488
   General and
    admini-
    strative        5,522      4,335      4,663      6,919     21,439
   Depreciation
    and amort-
    ization         5,249      8,550      4,194         79     18,072
   Gain on sale
    of assets          (2)        --         (7)        --         (9)
                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Total operating
  expenses         37,581     64,810     29,286      6,313    137,990
                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Operating loss $    (459) $  (5,478) $  (3,236) $  (6,998) $ (16,171)
                =========  =========  =========  =========  =========



                         Three Months Ended December 31, 2008
                -----------------------------------------------------
                                       Subsea    Corporate
                                      Trenching     &
                Towing and  Subsea      and      Elimina-
                 Supply    Services   Protection  tions       Total
                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------


  Revenues      $  52,502  $  72,383  $  55,846  $  (2,860) $ 177,871

  Operating
   expenses:
    Direct
     operating
     expenses      31,612     56,445     39,745     (2,860)   124,942
    General and
     admini-
     strative       5,837      3,944      7,174      6,361     23,316
    Depreciation
     and amort-
     ization        5,492      8,836      5,699         77     20,104
    Impairments        --    133,353     39,487         --    172,840
    Loss on sale
     of assets         61         --         --         --         61
                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total
   operating
   expenses        43,002    202,578     92,105      3,578    341,263
                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Operating
   income (loss)$   9,500  $(130,195) $ (36,259) $  (6,438) $(163,392)
                =========  =========  =========  =========  =========


             TRICO MARINE SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                            Vessel Metrics
               (Dollars in thousands, except utilization
                     and number of vessel amounts)


                                             Three Months Ended
                            Month of  -------------------------------
                             April    March 31,   Dec. 31,  March 31,
                             2009       2009       2008       2008
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Average Day Rates:

 Subsea Services
   SPSVs (1)               $  23,252  $  21,104  $  23,678  $  18,709
   MSVs (2)                   70,722     68,051     66,750        N/A

 Subsea Trenching and
  Protection               $ 106,751  $  91,120  $ 140,498        N/A

 Towing and Supply
   AHTSs (3)               $  14,859  $  25,012  $  31,871  $  39,373
   PSVs (4)                   16,828     15,364     17,219     17,959
   OSVs (5)                    6,857      7,168      8,439      7,163

 Utilization:

 Subsea Services
   SPSVs                          75%        68%        78%        94%
   MSVs                           94%        73%        79%       N/A

 Subsea Trenching and
  Protection                     100%        90%        90%       N/A

 Towing and Supply
   AHTSs                          71%        70%        90%        87%
   PSVs                           81%        90%        89%        91%
   OSVs                           65%        67%        83%        77%

 Average Number Vessels:

 Subsea Services
   SPSVs                         7.0        7.0        6.4        5.0
   MSVs                          9.7        9.1        9.6        N/A

 Subsea Trenching and
  Protection                     4.3        3.5        4.6        N/A

 Towing and Supply
   AHTSs                         6.0        6.0        6.0        6.0
   PSVs                          6.9        7.0        7.0        7.0
   OSVs                         38.0       38.0       38.0       38.2

 ----------------------
 (1) Subsea platform supply vessels
 (2) Multi-purpose service vessels
 (3) Anchor handling, towing and supply vessels
 (4) Platform supply vessels
 (5) Offshore supply vessels

CONTACT:  Trico Marine
          Geoff Jones, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
          (713) 780-9926