KOCHI: As part of its diversification plan, FACT launched an ammonia transporting barge named ‘FACT Pragatiyan’ on Tuesday. Jissy Jacob, wife of FACT production coordination general manager Manuel Zacharias, launched the vessel by breaking a coconut on its bow.
Pragatiyan was built by the FACT Engineering Works (FEW) at its yard in Palluruthy. It will transport ammonia from FACT’s storage facility at Willingdon Island and its Udyogamandal plant to its Ambalamedu unit.
The basic design of the vessel was done by Cusat while the ammonia bullets and associated piping were designed by the FACT Engineering and Design Organisation. The vessel was built as per the classification of the Indian Register of Shipping. Powered by two 192 BHP engines, the barge is 51 metres long and 9.6 metres wide.
There are six ammonia bullets each with a capacity of 32 tonnes. There are additional safety features like twin safety valves on each bullet, water spray system throughout the cargo hold area, trolley mounted breathing apparatus and single piece encapsulating full body chemical suits. The fabrication of the bullets was carried out at the FEW facility at Palluruthy.
With the commissioning of Pragatiyan, the public sector company now has two barges with a combined capacity of 200 tonnes.