FACT Engg enters maritime cargo transport

FACT Engineering Works (FEW), the fabrication division of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT), has announced its entry into maritime transport with the manufacture of barges.

The first FEW-built barge will be handed over to FACT, which plans to use it for transporting liquefied ammonia in its various divisions.

FEW has already commenced the fabrication of six bullet tanks for the barge at its workshop at Palluruthy, near here. Each bullet tank has a capacity to carry 32 tonnes of liquid ammonia. A single barge is fitted with six bullet tanks, which together can carry 192 tonnes of ammonia in each trip.

Liquid ammonia imported through Cochin Port will be transported to FACT units at Ambalamedu and Udyogamandal through the barge transportation.

Since barge transportation is more eco-friendly and has inherent capability to carry bulk quantities, FACT had recently started ammonia transportation by waterways by hiring a 192-tonne capacity barge.   

Road tankers were also engaged for the movement of ammonia. FACT is now trying to bring down the use of road tankers, as there are strict restrictions on the movement of ammonia by road and is permitted only during night hours.