Bruks Siwertell commissions second Siwertell ship unloader for Paradeep Phosphates Ltd in India

Bruks Siwertell has completed the installation and commissioning of a second Siwertell screw-type ship unloader for leading Indian fertilizer company, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL). The new Siwertell ST 640 D-type ship unloader joins a similar Siwertell unit at the port of Paradeep, in Odisha, India. PPL’s first unloader was delivered in 2006 and was part of the port’s environmental transformation.

“PPL has very high expectations of Siwertell technology,” says Bengt Svensson, Senior Contract Manager, Bruks Siwertell. “The delivery of our original Siwertell ship unloader, almost two decades ago, saw PPL switch from open-air sulfur handling with grab cranes, to safe, fully enclosed, dust-free operations. It literally transformed the port environmentally and was a significant step-up in efficiency.

“To keep up with demand, PPL needed to increase capacity, but wanted to do this in the most sustainable and environment-friendly way possible, leading to the second order,” he adds.

PPL, part of the KK Birla Group and the OCP Group of Morocco, is a major manufacturer of phosphatic fertilizers and is Asia’s second largest producer of diammonium phosphate (DAP), sourced from its plant close to the port.

The new rail-mounted ST 640-D ship unloader operates on the same jetty as Bruks Siwertell’s previous delivery for PPL, and similar to the first unit, has the capacity to discharge sulfur from vessels up to 60,000 dwt in size, at a rated capacity of 1,500t/h. It alternates handling this cargo with rock phosphate at a rate of 1,200t/h and muriate of potash (MOP) at 1,050t/h.

Both units, like all Siwertell ship unloaders that handle sulfur, are fitted with the Siwertell Sulfur Safety System (4S), which was first developed over 30 years ago to minimize the risk of explosions when handling this extremely volatile and corrosive dry bulk material.

In open-air handling systems, such as grab cranes, the flammable and explosive nature of sulfur is not so much of a problem, but becomes an issue for enclosed systems. However, sulfur should be contained, and its dust minimized, as it is damaging to the environment.

Siwertell ship unloading systems equipped with 4S technology are uniquely able to offer totally enclosed sulfur handling, reducing any risk to personnel, equipment, vessel and port to the minimum possible levels.