HEA Energy’s agreement to acquire Seaway7 Heavy Transport marks a significant expansion of the Abu Dhabi-based company’s offshore services business, adding an established fleet of semi-submersible heavy transport vessels to its growing portfolio.

Announced on 5 November 2026, the transaction covers six open-deck semi-submersible heavy transport vessels, five owned and one chartered from a third party. Completion is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

The acquisition brings together HEA Energy’s expanding offshore support and maintenance operations with Seaway7’s established heavy transportation business, extending the company’s activities into a new segment of the offshore marine industry.

From ZMI to HEA Energy

HEA Energy was founded in 2022 by Hassan Elali, founder and former Executive Chairman of ZMI Holdings, whose offshore marine business was established in Abu Dhabi in 1984.

Under Elali’s leadership, ZMI developed a large fleet of self-propelled jack-up barges and offshore support vessels serving the oil and gas industry.

In November 2022, ADNOC Logistics & Services completed its acquisition of Zakher Marine International (ZMI). The transaction added 24 jack-up barges and 38 offshore support vessels to ADNOC L&S’s operations.

HEA Energy subsequently developed its own offshore services portfolio, focusing on self-elevating support vessels (SESVs), offshore support vessels (OSVs), accommodation, lifting, commissioning and maintenance services for offshore wind and oil and gas projects.

The company expanded through vessel acquisitions and newbuild investments, establishing operations across the Middle East and Europe.

A Growing Offshore Fleet

HEA Energy’s expansion accelerated during 2026.

In June, the company completed a $550 million senior secured bond issue to finance its newbuild programme, refinance existing debt and support corporate requirements.

Its September 2026 investor information reported a fleet of 31 vessels, comprising 19 delivered units and 12 under construction. The company also reported a contracted backlog of $799 million as of 30 June 2026.

In August, HEA Energy acquired the jack-up vessels Thor and Wind Lift 1 from Semco Maritime. The transaction included a long-term charter arrangement under which Semco Maritime would continue using the vessels for offshore wind maintenance activities.

The subsequent agreement to acquire Seaway7’s heavy transport business adds another vessel category to HEA Energy’s operations.

According to HEA Energy’s acquisition announcement, the company intends to combine transportation and installation support with its existing operations and maintenance services.

Managing Director Omar Elali described heavy transport as a segment already familiar to HEA Energy through its experience as a customer. The acquired business will also bring its own contracted backlog and an established global transportation operation.

From OHT to Seaway7

The heavy transport business being acquired has its origins in Offshore Heavy Transport (OHT), a Norwegian operator specialising in transporting large and complex offshore cargoes.

Before the combination with Subsea7, OHT operated five open-deck semi-submersible heavy transport vessels: Eagle, Falcon, Hawk, Osprey and Albatross.

The company had also begun expanding beyond transportation into offshore wind installation through investments in purpose-built vessels, including the foundation installation vessel Alfa Lift and a wind turbine installation vessel under construction.

On 1 October 2021, OHT completed its combination with Subsea7’s offshore fixed wind business, creating Seaway 7 ASA.

Following the transaction, Subsea7 owned 72% of the combined company, while former OHT shareholders retained 28%.

The combination brought OHT’s heavy transport fleet together with Subsea7’s offshore wind engineering and installation activities. The resulting business offered transportation and installation services covering foundations, wind turbines, offshore substations and submarine cables.

In May 2023, Subsea7 completed the acquisition of the remaining minority interests, making Seaway7 a wholly owned subsidiary. Seaway 7 ASA was delisted from Euronext Growth Oslo on 12 May 2023.

Five years after the original combination, the heavy transportation business is now set to move to HEA Energy, separating it from Seaway7’s wider offshore wind installation activities.

Implications for Heavy Transport

According to Seaway7’s fleet information, the current heavy transport fleet comprises Seaway Eagle, Seaway Falcon, Seaway Hawk, Seaway Osprey, Seaway Albatross and Seaway Swan, with the latter chartered from a third party.

The vessels transport offshore wind foundations, substations, jack-up units, drilling rigs, modules and other oversized cargo. The fleet covers transportation requirements for cargoes weighing up to 55,000 tonnes.

For the heavy marine transport market, the acquisition represents a change in the ownership of established vessel capacity rather than an increase in the number of available ships.

The transaction also transfers an operating business with specialised transport engineering capabilities, including cargo support arrangements, grillage design and loading preparation for large offshore structures.

For HEA Energy, the fleet adds large-scale marine transportation to an existing portfolio built around offshore support, commissioning and maintenance.

Subsea7’s Divestment Strategy

For Subsea7, the disposal is connected to its proposed merger with Saipem.

According to the official Subsea7 announcement, the transaction qualifies as a permitted business divestment under the merger agreement and will trigger a previously approved €105 million special dividend to shareholders.

The dividend is due at the earlier of the transaction’s completion or immediately before the proposed merger takes effect. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

As HMT News previously reported, HEA Energy expects to become the only Middle Eastern owner of this category of semi-submersible heavy transport vessel following completion.

Why This News Matters

The acquisition marks a significant expansion of HEA Energy’s offshore services portfolio, adding large-scale marine transportation to its existing offshore support, commissioning and maintenance operations.

For the heavy transport sector, the transaction represents a change in the ownership of an established global fleet rather than an increase in available vessel capacity.

The agreement also separates Seaway7’s heavy transportation business from its wider offshore wind installation activities, placing the fleet under an operator with an established presence in offshore support and maintenance.

The transaction therefore reflects a change in the ownership and business structure of offshore marine transportation, with HEA Energy adding an established heavy transport operation to its expanding portfolio.