LAD Companies
LAD Companies is a privately held marine fabrication and repair services firm founded in 1996 in South Louisiana, operating a 4,000-ton drydock and three facilities with 400+ employees. It serves barge owners, marine construction firms, offshore energy operators, and salvage clients throughout the Gulf region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLouisiana, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LAD Companies does
LAD Companies (legal entity LAD Services of Louisiana LLC / LAD Companies Inc.) is a privately held marine fabrication and repair services firm founded in 1996 by Lee A. Dragna and headquartered in Morgan City, Louisiana. The company designs and constructs marine equipment — including new barges — and operates a 4,000-ton drydock at its Berwick facility, supported by 230-ton Manitowoc and 150-ton heavy cranes and over 3,300 feet of waterfront bulkhead with 28 feet of water depth. Across three South Louisiana facilities (Morgan City headquarters, Berwick, and Stephensville with an additional Amelia top-side repair site), the company employs over 400 specialized staff in marine fabrication, salvage, structural work, and engineered FO/FO and RO/RO heavy equipment transport operations.
The firm's service portfolio spans new barge fabrication, dry dock repair, dockside and top-side repair, blasting and painting, steel processing, in-house engineering and design, FO/FO and RO/RO specialty operations, living quarters setup, marine salvage, and structural fabrication. LAD serves barge owners and operators, marine construction companies, offshore energy operators, and salvage and recovery operations throughout the Gulf region, with a documented track record of high-profile projects including SpaceX rocket recovery and barge repairs, NASA Launch Station 39A demolition at Cape Canaveral, BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, and Puerto Rico hurricane disaster relief.
LAD generates revenue on a project-based, quote-based model for custom marine fabrication and repair work, with no public pricing, subscription, or licensing disclosures. The go-to-market motion is direct enterprise field sales ([email protected]) supported by a small named sales team, with no intermediaries, resellers, or marketplace channels. Marketing is limited to the company website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram organic presence, plus occasional blog content. The company remains founder-owned and independently operated with no disclosed institutional investment, M&A activity, or secondary transactions.
LAD Companies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LAD Companies
- Legal name
- LAD Companies Inc.
- Website
- https://ladcompanies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- LAD Companies is a privately held marine fabrication and repair services firm founded in 1996 in South Louisiana, operating a 4,000-ton drydock and three facilities with 400+ employees. It serves barge owners, marine construction firms, offshore energy operators, and salvage clients throughout the Gulf region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LAD Companies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Fabrication and Repair Services
- NAICS
- Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists) (IMAJALAD), Mechanical Systems Repair (Engines, Propulsion, Pumps) (TLAKAKAF), Engine & Mechanical Overhaul (Main/Aux Engines, Pumps, Valves, Compressors) (TLAHAMAD), Accommodation & Interior Outfit (Cabins, Galleys, Sanitary, Furniture) (IMAJAIAF), Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists) (IMAJAIAB)
Keywords
Where LAD Companies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisiana
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
LAD Companies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Marine Fabrication and Repair Services: Revenue generated from new barge fabrication, drydock repair services, dockside repairs, structural fabrication, and specialized marine projects. Services are project-based with scope varying by client needs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
LAD Companies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LAD Companies designs, fabricates, and repairs marine equipment for vessel and barge operators in the Gulf region. Services span new barge construction, drydock and dockside repairs, top-side repair, blasting and painting, steel processing, structural fabrication, marine salvage, RoRo/FoFo heavy equipment transport operations, and crew living-quarters setup, supported by in-house engineering and three South Louisiana facilities including a 4,000-ton drydock.
Product overview
LAD Companies is a marine fabrication and repair service company offering a comprehensive suite of integrated services for vessel and barge owners. The company operates as a single unified service provider with distinct but complementary offerings including: New Barge Fabrication for constructing new marine vessels and specialty projects; Dry Dock Repair utilizing a 4,000-ton drydock facility for full hull access; Dockside Repair for afloat vessel maintenance; Top Side Repair, Blasting and Painting, and Steel Processing for structural and surface work; In House Engineering for custom design and fabrication; FO/FO and RO/RO Operations for heavy equipment transport; Living Quarters Setup for crew accommodations; and Marine Salvage for complex recovery operations. These services work together to provide end-to-end solutions for vessel operators in the Gulf region, from new construction through ongoing maintenance, repair, and specialty transport operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Barge Fabrication Design and construction of new marine equipment, including new barges and specialty projects, tailored to specific client needs. Targeted at vessel owners, marine construction firms, and operators requiring custom new builds.
- Dry Dock Repair Drydock repair services that maintain marine vessels to high standards using the 4,000-ton drydock for full hull access, minimizing downtime and maximizing operational efficiency for vessel and barge owners.
- Dockside Repair Repair services performed while vessels remain afloat, including hull patching, superstructure reinforcement, piping and valve replacement, and welding work, for vessel and barge operators needing in-water maintenance.
- Top Side Repair Comprehensive top side repair services addressing structural or mechanical issues on the upper portions of vessels to keep marine assets in optimal condition.
- Blasting and Painting Blasting and painting solutions to protect and maintain the integrity of marine equipment, ensuring longevity and performance in harsh Gulf-region conditions.
- Steel Processing Steel processing capabilities supporting a wide range of marine fabrication needs, including cutting, bending, and plate processing, delivering precision and quality for marine construction projects.
- FO/FO and RO/RO Operations Specialty operations facilitating Float On/Float Off (FO/FO) and Roll On/Roll Off (RO/RO) heavy marine equipment transport and deployment, with engineered ramp systems, heavy skids, load transfer gear, ballast control, and alignment systems for efficient deployment.
- Living Quarters Setup Setup of comfortable and functional living quarters on marine vessels, ensuring a safe and pleasant environment for crew members on barges and other marine assets.
- Marine Salvage Marine salvage services handling complex recovery operations for vessel recovery, energy exploration support, flood remediation, and disaster response, demonstrated by BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery and Puerto Rico hurricane disaster relief engagements.
- Structural Fabrication Structural fabrication services for marine applications, including custom modifications, reinforcement work, and structural elements for marine assets, delivered through in-house engineering and the company's fabrication shops.
Quantifiable outcome
- Minimizes vessel downtime through combined drydock and dockside repair capabilities
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use LAD Companies
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LAD Companies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
LAD Companies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LAD Companies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Edison Chouest Offshore: Large, diversified Gulf-based marine services company with extensive vessel operation, fabrication, and repair capabilities serving offshore oil & gas — a broader incumbent competing for similar offshore marine support work.
- Atlantic Marine (HII): Gulf Coast ship repair and construction operator owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries, providing drydock, fabrication, and overhaul for commercial and government marine customers — a larger incumbent competing for similar repair and conversion work.
Regional players
- Vigor Industrial: Pacific Northwest ship repair and fabrication operator with major drydock capacity serving government, commercial, and fishing fleets — comparable shipyard services but operating on a different coast than LAD.
Direct peers
- Halter Marine: Gulf Coast (Mississippi/Louisiana) shipbuilder providing new construction and repair for offshore supply vessels, patrol boats, and barges — closely comparable in customer base and repair capabilities to LAD.
- Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors: U.S. shipbuilder performing new construction, repair, and conversion for government and commercial marine clients — overlapping with LAD's fabrication and structural work but without LAD's Gulf geographic focus.
- Master Boat Builders: Alabama-based shipyard performing new construction and repair of offshore supply vessels, tugs, and barges in the Gulf region — directly comparable service mix and customer base to LAD Companies.
- Bollinger Shipyards: Louisiana-based shipbuilder and repair operator with multiple Gulf Coast facilities, performing new construction, drydock repair, and conversion work for government and commercial marine clients — directly overlapping LAD's core Gulf repair and fabrication services.
- Conrad Shipyard: Louisiana-headquartered shipbuilder and marine repair yard serving government, offshore, and commercial customers with fabrication, repair, and drydock capabilities — a directly comparable Gulf-region competitor in barge and vessel repair.
- Crescent Towing & Salvage: Gulf-based marine services company performing towing, salvage, and vessel support work — directly comparable to LAD's marine salvage and barge service offerings in the same geography.
Others
- Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG): Major U.S. flag tanker and vessel operator that is a downstream buyer of drydock, repair, and fabrication services in the Gulf — a key customer-side peer providing demand for LAD's repair offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LAD Companies social profiles
Digital presenceLAD Companies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LAD Companies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
LAD Companies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LAD Companies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LAD Companies
What does LAD Companies do?
LAD Companies designs, fabricates, and repairs marine equipment for vessel and barge operators in the Gulf region. Services span new barge construction, drydock and dockside repairs, top-side repair, blasting and painting, steel processing, structural fabrication, marine salvage, RoRo/FoFo heavy equipment transport operations, and crew living-quarters setup, supported by in-house engineering and three South Louisiana facilities including a 4,000-ton drydock.
Is LAD Companies a public or private company?
LAD Companies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was LAD Companies founded?
LAD Companies was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is LAD Companies based?
LAD Companies is headquartered in Louisiana, United States, in the North America region.
How does LAD Companies make money?
One revenue line is on record: marine Fabrication and Repair Services.
Who are LAD Companies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Edison Chouest Offshore and Atlantic Marine (HII). Vigor Industrial is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Halter Marine, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, Master Boat Builders, Bollinger Shipyards, Conrad Shipyard and Crescent Towing & Salvage. Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) is listed as an others.
Does LAD Companies have an API?
No public API is recorded for LAD Companies.
What industry is LAD Companies in?
LAD Companies's product category is Marine Fabrication and Repair Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAKAA, Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking, with a secondary code of IMAJALAD, Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists). Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3730.