Inland Marine Construction on Gulf Coast Waterways
South Louisiana's working waterfronts sit on bayous, rivers and canals that big offshore spreads can't reach and land cranes can't serve. Inland marine construction is DLS's home water: shallow-draft crane barges and tugboats, crews raised on these waterways, and a yard at the Port of West St. Mary that mobilizes straight onto the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
What we do
We build and repair docks, piers and wharves, bulkheads, mooring structures and fender systems, and marine foundations — plus pile driving, access trestles and temporary work platforms — on protected waters across the Gulf Coast: the Intracoastal, the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya Basin and the bayou and canal systems in between.
Built for tight water
Maneuverable crane barges like Little Lightening are sized for tight access and precision lifts in shallow water, and our tugboat fleet positions equipment exactly where the work is. Materials and fabricated components stage at our yard and arrive by barge — one move from our dock to your project (see Equipment).
Recent work
Recent inland scopes include dock and bulkhead construction, fender system installation and pile driving on South Louisiana waterways.
Safety on every job
Every inland spread operates under engineered lift plans, daily job safety analyses and stop-work authority — the program that has kept DLS at zero recordable incidents since 2018 (see Safety).
FAQ
What is inland marine construction?
Inland marine construction is over-water construction on protected waterways — docks, piers, bulkheads, mooring structures and fender systems on bayous, rivers and canals. DLS self-performs this work across the Gulf Coast with shallow-draft crane barges and tugboats.
What waterways does DLS work on?
DLS works across Gulf Coast inland waters — the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya Basin and the bayou and canal systems of South Louisiana — mobilizing directly by water from its yard at the Port of West St. Mary.
Can DLS work in shallow or tight-access water?
Yes. Maneuverable crane barges like Little Lightening are sized for tight access and precision lifts in shallow water, letting DLS reach job sites larger spreads cannot.
Ready to scope your next project?
Call (337) 924-7444 or send us the details — we'll come back with equipment, crew and a timeline.
Safety Record
- 0.0TRIR (2021–2023)
- ZeroRecordables since 2018
- Stop WorkAuthority for every employee
