DLS adds crane barge, tug boat to equipment inventory

As a part of its ongoing expansion, DLS LLC, a heavy marine and oilfield construction company based in St. Mary Parish, announced the acquisition of new equipment. 
Among this equipment is the new “Little Lightning” truckable heavy-lift crane barge. This revolutionary new barge is capable of working in as little as 16 inches of water, has a 20-ton box boom hydraulic crane and two hydraulic spuds that help safely stabilize the crane lifts. 
“Safety has always been the key component to the growth and success of DLS,” said Managing Partner André Franques.  
DLS also acquired a shallow water truckable inland tug boat with twin screws also capable of operating in 30 inches of water named Miss Madeline.
She boasts two John Deere diesel engines that can produce a total of 600 horsepower.
“She’s a little hard worker when needed,” said Franque.
These acquisitions bring the total number of DLS heavy lift crane barges to four and the total number of DLS tug boats to 10.
Since expansion began in 2012, DLS has added three more divisions: Offshore Rental Cranes & Crane Operators, Onshore and Offshore Construction and Maintenance Crews, and Blasting and Painting / Coating Crews both onshore and offshore, creating jobs for local workers as a result.
DLS says that despite the meteoric growth of the past few years, the company is committed to maintaining a family-owned atmosphere for employees and clients.
DLS is named and operated in memory of Leon and David Ortemond.