Deep South Crane and Rigging

In the Southwest, a depenthanizer vessel unexpectedly failed and needed immediate removal and replacement at a petrochemical facility. This seemingly straightforward task was complicated by an extremely congested space, and the owner specified that the crane assembly and vessel movement could not interfere with existing equipment, which limited the equipment available to perform the job. moved quickly, developing a plan to remove and replace this 140’-long vessel (425 kips) using the versatile 1,800-ton TC-28000 in configuration 4/8 with a 363’ boom, 720 kips of hinge counterweight, and 1,500 kips of auxiliary counterweight for removal and replacement. The VersaCrane™ fleet’s inherent ability to accommodate difficult and congested areas allowed the team to fit outriggers under pipe racks, while the hinge and auxiliary counterweight fit within the adjacent existing equipment. Deep South’s 40’ Mabey Tower System was also used to support the TC-28000 boom over the pipe rack during crane assembly. A 440-ton Tadano Demag CC-2400-1 crawler crane served as the tail crane.

was tasked with transporting, lifting, and installing a 350,000-pound boiler at a petrochemical plant in the Southwest. Given the load’s size and the low pipe racks along the route, the team deployed specialized equipment to ensure a safe and efficient operation.

Using a 660-ton LR-1600/2, Deep South’s team lifted the 49’ L x 26’ W x 12’ H boiler from an over-the-road transporter and lifted it over the first pipe rack to a staged 12-axle-line . Once inside the plant, the boiler was transported to a 660-ton -Demag CC-2800-1, which carefully maneuvered it over a second pipe rack before placing it onto staged mats. A 750-ton was then deployed to slide the boiler into its final position on anchor bolts.

This strategic combination of cranes and gantry not only ensured precise placement but also saved the customer significant costs that would have arisen from using a larger crane, especially given the limited setup area.

Deep South is hiring Heavy Haul Truck Drivers. Immediate positions available in Houston. Oversized load experience preferred. This is an opportunity to work with one of the most established crane and transport companies in the industry.

Learn more or apply today: https://hubs.la/Q04v7zB50

was tasked by the fabricator to transport and stage two identical vessels, each measuring 120’ long, 13’ in diameter, and weighing 442 kips. Once on site, our team was responsible for lifting the vessels into position as directed by the industrial plant operator.

With an exceptionally tight schedule, ex*****on was everything.

The first phase required the transport of the vessels from the fabricator in Houston, Texas to the plant in Lubbock, Texas—a distance of 750 miles. To facilitate the transport, the team relied on a push-pull configuration with a pull truck connected to two 16-axle-line trailers followed by a push truck. The first vessel was delivered in 8 days. Then, the same trailers, now empty, returned to the fabricator to pick up the second vessel and re-traveled the 750 miles. The second vessel delivery was completed in 6 days.

Once on site, the vessels were staged for a 5-day dress-out. When dress-out was complete, Deep South used a 24-axle-line SPMT with 500-kip tailing frame to move the vessels from staging area to hook and then used a 660-ton CC-2800-1 with 196’ of boom to lift and set the vessels on the foundations.

When a critical motor failed at an LNG plant, the clock started immediately. At 680,000 lbs, the motor had never been changed out before. The plant had 15 days to get back online. developed a precise plan built around a 700-ton gantry with a 5' base for stability and 39' of stroke, a custom jack-and-slide system, and a 6-axle-line double-wide Scheuerle SPMT. The gantry's stroke provided the clearance needed to execute the changeout with minimal large crane support, saving the client time and cost. The team completed the full removal and replacement in 12 days, three days ahead of deadline. The facility owner personally thanked both shifts for their professionalism and safe ex*****on.

As part of a refurbishment project after Hurricane Laura, the City of Lake Charles, LA, engaged to remove and replace the Belfry Tower at Historic City Hall, which is more than 100 years old. The city looked to Deep South to develop a “remove-and-replacement” plan that would not interfere with any part of the building other than the bell tower. Deep South’s comprehensive rigging plan included the fabrication of a three-bar lift with drifting I-beams that provided lifting points for safe removal of the structure. The team used a 190-ton LTM 1160-5.1 hydraulic all-terrain crane featuring 203’ of main boom and a swing-away jib. Once the new bell tower was fabricated, the team used a 120-ton Liebherr LTM-4.2 to set the new 7,500-pound structure onto the roof. This replaced metal structure served as the backbone for the new roof and all decorative wood columns, handrails, and framing for the Belfry Tower.

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave everything for our freedom. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering service will never be forgotten. At Deep South Crane & Rigging, we stand in gratitude for our fallen heroes.

Deep South Crane & Rigging is seeking a Professional Engineer (PE and/or SE) with a Civil/Structural engineering background to join our VersaCrane design team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

At Deep South, our engineers do more than review lift plans and calculations. They help create world-class high-capacity cranes, in addition to other custom specialty lifting and transport solutions, from the ground up alongside our in-house manufacturing and fabrication teams. From concept and structural analysis to fabrication and field testing, you’ll have the unique opportunity to see your ideas become real-world heavy-lift solutions used across critical industries. The proprietary VersaCrane fleet was built through innovative engineering, hands-on manufacturing, and the ability to turn complex ideas into real-world lifting solutions. If you’re looking for a role where engineering meets hands-on creation, we want to hear from you.

Apply now: https://hubs.la/Q04hGf9F0

Replacing a 650-kip reactor head in the Southwest required Deep South’s team to fit a crane into a tight space where others had been unable to do so. The job involved precise ex*****on to build a high-capacity crane over a pipe rack and into a confined space, which called for the assistance of our 800-ton gantry system, 500-ton LTM 1400-7.1, and 265-ton Liebherr LTM 1220-5.1.

To facilitate this heavy lift, the team deployed a 1,500-ton TC-24000 in Configuration 2 (with 720 kips on the main tray and a very short tail swing). With only inches of clearance between the crane boom and the pipe rack, and low allowable ground bearing pressure, engineers were challenged to design an oversized outrigger footprint to meet the low ground bearing pressure and plant safety specifications.

Utilizing 100-ton turnbuckles to level the reactor head and with just 12 inches of boom clearance, the team successfully lifted the old reactor, set it on a jig stand, then lifted the new reactor off its jig stand to set it into the final resting position.

Teamwork and a specialized close-quarters crane made the transport and set of an ammonia converter and converter internals successful. Months in advance, the team worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Department of Transportation to receive permit approval to cross a levee and move along a river road. The approximately one million-pound ammonia converter shell (94’ long x 10’-10” diameter) and 946,000-pound ammonia converter (94’-5” long x 15’ diameter) were transported using an 18-axle-line SPMT, and the 213,800-pound cartridge (89’-6” long x 10’-3” diameter) was moved using a 16-axle-line E-series. At the facility, in a tight area with adjacent power lines, a 1000-ton ™ CC-12000 and a 330-ton CC-1800 tail crane safely lifted the pieces into position.