The Chouest Group, based in Louisiana, has acquired Horizon Maritime, a Canadian marine and offshore services provider. This move allows Chouest to expand its presence on both the East and West coasts of Canada, as well as into the Arctic region.
The acquisition, announced on Monday, combines Chouest's global offshore support fleet and various capabilities with Horizon Maritime's established operations in Canada and expertise in harsh-environment offshore services.
Horizon Maritime, located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, was acquired from CFFI and its lender, HPS, through a partnership with the company's founders. The financial details of the deal have not been made public.
This acquisition strengthens Chouest's position in Canada's offshore energy and marine sectors and gives Horizon access to a larger fleet and a wider range of specialized services.
"We are excited to welcome Horizon Maritime to the Chouest Group," said Dino Chouest. "We see great value in the expertise and leadership of the Horizon team."
He added, "By combining Chouest's global fleet knowledge and technology with Horizon's local presence across Canada's vast coastlines, we open up significant growth opportunities on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Arctic."
Horizon Maritime specializes in challenging marine operations and has experience in supporting offshore energy projects, Arctic operations, and other specialized maritime activities. The company has also built strong relationships with Indigenous communities across Canada.
Under this agreement, Horizon will keep its current management team. Steve Widmeyer will continue as CEO, and both Widmeyer and co-founder Sean Leet will join the board of directors.
This arrangement ensures that existing customers, ongoing projects, and crewing operations will remain uninterrupted while also enabling the growth of services across Canada.
For Horizon, this deal comes at a time when Canada is looking to improve its maritime capabilities, especially in the Arctic, where commercial activity and national security needs are increasingly aligned.
"This is a chance to build on what we have established and move Horizon Maritime into its next phase of growth," said Leet.
He further mentioned, "The Chouest Group brings valuable marine experience and resources that will help us expand Horizon Maritime's services and better support our customers, while also increasing our capacity at a crucial time for our region and country."
Widmeyer highlighted the opportunities this partnership offers for Horizon's employees, including career development and long-term growth prospects.
Both companies expressed their commitment to enhancing Indigenous participation in Canada's marine economy.
This acquisition broadens the reach of the Chouest Group, a privately-held, family-owned business involved in offshore vessel operations, shipbuilding, subsea services, specialized engineering, and advanced technology manufacturing.
For Horizon Maritime, this partnership provides access to Chouest's global resources while preserving its Canadian leadership and established customer connections.