When a major Gulf Coast refinery needed to expand its production capacity, Deep South was selected to transport and install a specialized process tower, one of the project's most critical elements. Moving a 198-ft-long tower, 28-ft wide, nearly 23-ft high, and weighing 1,053 kips through an active refinery would demand precision at every turn.

From Ship to Shore

The tower arrived by ship and was transferred to a barge before reaching the dock. From there, Deep South's team orchestrated a carefully choreographed transport sequence. The tower was rolled off using bolstered Scheuerle SPMTs, beginning a journey that would test the limits of precision heavy hauling within the confines of an active refinery. Narrow roadways, limited access points, and ongoing operations meant every inch mattered. The team collaborated closely with the refinery's operational staff to map the optimal route and navigate obstacles that allowed virtually no margin for error.

Engineering Around Obstacles

The complexity escalated as the tower approached the first pipe rack. Using 800-ton gantries, the team executed a mid-route transload, transferring the load to Scheuerle "Split" SPMTs. This configuration allowed the tower to pass beneath two pipe racks and traverse an active railroad crossing using a Deep South-designed bridge system. Once clear of the railroad, the tower was lifted back onto bolstered SPMTs to meet width restrictions for the remainder of the journey.

Precision Placement

Positioning the tower for installation required its own intensive planning phase. The installation required the assembly of two cranes — a 1,375-ton Terex-Demag CC-6800 and a 440-ton Terex-Demag CC-2400-1 for tailing — in a space with little room for maneuverability. The cranes had to be built, operated, and later removed out of a worksite hemmed in by active operations, existing structures, and narrow access routes. Clearances were measured in inches, not feet.

Operating under an aggressive timeline, the lift demanded seamless coordination between crane operators, rigging crews, and the refinery's operational teams. The successful installation marked a major milestone in the refinery expansion.

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About Deep South: Deep South Crane & Rigging is a leading provider of heavy lift and transportation services, serving a diverse range of industries. With a focus on safety, innovation, and technical expertise, Deep South delivers reliable solutions for complex projects while maintaining the highest standards of workforce protection. The company strives to equip its customers with the best tools to complete the task at hand and is home to the VersaCrane fleet.

The firm offers a complete range of services, bare crane rental to turnkey heavy lift and transport solutions, serving clients across North and South America. It operates out of seven locations, including Baton Rouge, LA; Lake Charles, LA; New Orleans, LA; DeQuincy, LA; Beaumont, TX; Houston, TX; and Catlettsburg, KY. Sister company DS Americas operates out of Bogotá, Colombia.

Recent recognition includes: 2024 Industry Business Roundtable (IBR) Safety Excellence Award in Crane and Rigging, and 2023 IBR Mentor Award; 2023 and 2024 Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance (GBRIA) Safety Excellence Award; 2023, 2024, and 2025 Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SC&RA) Crane & Rigging Group Safety Award; 13 consecutive years included in Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation (LWCC) Safest 70; 2023 and 2025 Texas Mutual Platinum Safety Partner Award; Marathon's 2024 Exceptional Partner Award; and the 2025 Specialized Carriers & Riggers Foundation (SC&RF) Workforce Ambassador Award