Melancon Marine runs 1,200 HP tugboats out of Larose, on Bayou Lafourche. We tow and shift barges on the Intracoastal Waterway, Bayou Lafourche, and the canals across Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, and we move equipment down the LA-1 corridor to Port Fourchon.
We handle barge moves, equipment transportation, dredge and construction support, and standby tow work for contractors who don't run their own boats. Our spud barges, excavators, crew boats, and airboats stage at the same yard, so if the job needs more than a tow, we can send the rest of the equipment with it.
Why Melancon Marine
Why people call us
Based where the work is
Larose sits where Bayou Lafourche crosses the Intracoastal Waterway, about half an hour up LA-1 from Port Fourchon. Most of the jobs we tow for are a short run from our dock, which keeps mobilization time and cost down.
The right size boats for inland work
1,200 HP is a good fit for this water. The boats have enough push for loaded deck and spud barges, and they still work the narrow bayous and canals where bigger tugs can't go.
Towing plus the equipment behind it
Most tows are part of a bigger job. There are piles to drive, material to move, or a dock to build. We own the barges, excavators, crew boats, and airboats too, so we can supply the equipment along with the tow.
You talk to the person running the boats
Melancon Marine is owner-operated. When you call about a tow, you're talking to someone who knows where the boats are, what they can handle, and what the water is doing this week. Scope, timing, and rate get settled in one call.
The Scope
What this service covers
Barge towing & shifting
Deck barges, spud barges, and hopper barges moved from point to point or repositioned on the job.
Equipment transportation
Excavators, cranes, and construction equipment delivered by water when there's no road to the site.
Dredge & construction support
Tender work, material barge rotation, and standby support for dredging and construction crews.
Fleet work
Short shifts, staging, and harbor moves along Bayou Lafourche and the ICW.
Project mobilization
Tug, barge, and equipment delivered together and set up to work.
Standby & support towing
A tug on call for jobs where weather and water set the schedule.
How It Works
How a job goes
01
Tell us the move
What needs to go where, what it weighs, and when it needs to be there.
02
We check the route
Water depth, bridge clearances, and lock timing between the two points.
03
You get a price
A written quote for the tow before anything moves.
04
We move it
The tug picks up, runs the route, and delivers. We keep you posted along the way.
Also Here
Marine equipment brokering
We also broker marine equipment: tugs, barges, workboats, and support gear. If you're looking to buy or sell, or you need a piece of equipment we don't have in the fleet, we'll work our contacts across the Gulf Coast to track it down or find it a buyer.
Call with what you have or what you need and we'll tell you what we can do.
On the Job
Our equipment on the job
Service Area
Tug and barge service on the Intracoastal Waterway, Bayou Lafourche, and connecting waters across Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, Port Fourchon, Houma, Morgan City, and South Louisiana.
Common Questions
Common questions
What size tows can your tugboats handle?
Our tugs are 1,200 HP inland pushboats, sized for deck barges, spud barges, and hopper barges on the ICW and bayou systems. Give us the barge dimensions, the load, and the route, and we'll tell you quickly whether our boats fit the tow.
How much does tug and barge towing cost in Louisiana?
Towing is usually priced by the day or by the move. The main factors are distance, transit time, the size of the tow, and whether the tug stays on site. Call (985) 691-4591 with the origin, destination, and load and we'll quote it.
What waterways do you operate on?
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Bayou Lafourche, and the connected canals and bayous across Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, including the run down to Port Fourchon and over to Houma and Morgan City. If your job is on water we haven't named, call and ask.
Can you move construction equipment to a site without road access?
Yes. We load excavators and other equipment on our barges and deliver them by water. For a lot of bayou and marsh jobs it's the only practical way in, and the barge can stay on site as a work platform.
Do you tow for other marine companies, or only for your own projects?
Both. Most of our towing is hire work for contractors, dredging companies, and equipment owners. The same tugs also deliver our own rental barges and construction equipment.
How far in advance do I need to schedule a tow?
For planned moves, the earlier the better. We keep room for short-notice work too, so if a barge has to move this week, call today and we'll tell you what's available.
Larose, Louisiana
Put the fleet to work
Call (985) 691-4591 for rates, availability, and scheduling.