This solution sets a new benchmark for safe and efficient ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfers, inspired by unique floating hose design, qualified to GMPHOM 2009 standard, the company claimed.
STS transfer is becoming an increasingly popular option among ship operators and managers. Transferring cargo offshore can be particularly economical when a ship has multiple discharge points on its voyage or when draught restrictions prevent it from entering port.
However, this type of transfer is particularly complex and requires proper co-ordination, equipment and approval to perform, as mentioned many times in ‘Tanker Operator Magazine’.
Vincent Lagarrigue, Trelleborg’s oil and marine hoses director, commented: “STS transfer is an essential and widely used part of efficient and cost-effective transport of oil all over the world. However, as the industry evolves, it is crucial we continually evaluate the long-term effectiveness of oil transfer solutions at each part of the value chain, along with operability.
“As suppliers, it is our duty to ensure that we are playing a role in raising standards across the industry by contributing our expertise as much as our products. This is why, at Trelleborg, we have launched a new solution for STS transfer in the form of KLELINE STS. When it comes to hoses, investment in higher specification products can reduce the need for maintenance, increase operability, and lessen the number of costly replacements over the lifecycle of a project, despite initial higher capex,”he said.
The KLELINE STS hose consists of two carcasses made of steel cables, which enables the hose to withstand accidental kinks or crushing forces. With Trelleborg’s unique nippleless design, in contrast to a standard nipple hose design, there is no stiff metal connector in between different sections of the hose. The hose is therefore more flexible, and the continuous inner liner and integrated gasket create a perfect seal.
As a result, there is no need for gaskets at each connection, increasing the simplicity of installation, resulting in a hose that can withstand stresses and strains for longer, the company claimed.
Most STS hoses are qualified to the EN 1765 standard. However, KLELINE STS hoses are qualified to a higher standard of GMPHOM 2009. Trelleborg’s STS transfer offering also extends to ISO 17357:2014 compliant pneumatic fender systems, ship-shore link (SSL) and emergency shut-down (ESD) technology, quick release hooks (QRH), ship performance monitoring systems, docking aid systems and advanced navigation and piloting solutions.
Together with KLELINE STS, these products create a total solution for more efficient, safer and smarter STS transfers, Trelleborg claimed.