VGO Reactor Transportation

A Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) Reactor for the capacity expansion plan for the Kochi Refineries Limited (KRL) was built in China and shipped to Cochin by the heavy-lift ship M.V. Maria. The 750-Ton heavy, 37-metre long, 5.2-metre diameter Reactor is the biggest single piece of machinery handled in the country. LOTS-India, the biggest operator on Indian Inland Waterways No.3, came up with a water transport model for transporting this Reactor to the Kochi Refinery. This involved the building of a special purpose barge taking into account the critical water depth and air draft restrictions. Master Shipyard Limited built this barge in a record time of 70 days. LOTS-India carried out the transportation of the Reactor by water from Cochin Port to Refinery surmounting many road, rail and foot bridges.