Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose
A floating cargo hose that stays on the surface between two vessels moored alongside, built with buoyancy elements the submarine type does not carry. Its job ends the moment the transfer does; it is rigged, used and recovered on the same day.
What to check on a Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose.
45 models from Parker/Polyflex in Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose. Below: the full model list.
What makes this type
The ship-to-ship (STS) cargo hose is a floating hose string rigged between two vessels moored alongside each other, most often during lightering, bunkering at anchor, or transfers where no jetty is available. Unlike the submarine hose, which is designed to sink and stay on the seabed, the STS hose must float on the surface throughout the operation so it can be handled by crane, tended by mooring boats, and recovered cleanly once cargo has passed. Buoyancy is built into the hose itself or added as separate float collars strapped along its length.
Legend
- vessel A (discharging)
- manifold (vessel A)
- crane support
- surface marker buoy
- manifold (vessel B)
- vessel B (receiving)
Main components
Hose body
A synthetic rubber or composite tube reinforced with helical wire and textile plies, covered by an abrasion- and weather-resistant outer layer. The construction has to flex repeatedly without kinking as the two ships move on their moorings.
Flanges and couplings
Steel or aluminium flanges bonded to each hose length, matched to the manifold table (commonly ANSI or DIN pattern) of both vessels, with bolted or quick-connect couplings depending on the trade.
Read the full guide
Floats
Closed-cell foam collars fitted around the hose at intervals, or hoses with integral buoyancy layers, keeping the string on the surface even when full of cargo.
Tail hose and pick-up gear
A shorter, more flexible tail section connects to the manifold, fitted with lifting bridles, pick-up ropes and a messenger line so mooring boats or the receiving ship's crane can bring the hose end aboard.
Selection / Sizing
- Nominal bore, typically 6 to 16 inches, matched to the intended cargo throughput and both manifolds.
- Working pressure rating, with the hose tested well above the maximum transfer pressure expected.
- Minimum breaking load of the hose and its bridles, since the string carries its own weight plus dynamic loads from vessel motion.
- Cargo compatibility of the lining: crude and dark products, clean products, and chemicals each need a different tube compound.
- Overall string length, set by the anticipated distance between manifolds at the planned mooring configuration.
Regulations / Class
STS transfers are conducted under the OCIMF Ship to Ship Transfer Guide, which sets out hose testing, marking, and handling practice widely followed by charterers and terminals even where not mandatory. Hoses are pressure tested at survey intervals set by the operator's inspection regime, and each length carries a test date, working pressure, and identification marking. Electrical continuity across the string is checked as part of the same programme, since a break in bonding removes a path for static discharge.
Typical faults
| Fault | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Kinked or crushed hose from poor flaking on deck | Localised weak point, risk of burst under pressure |
| Waterlogged or damaged floats | Hose sinks or hangs at an angle, increasing strain on flanges |
| Loss of electrical continuity between flanges | No discharge path for static, ignition risk during transfer |
| Cover abrasion from repeated deck handling | Reinforcement exposed, hose condemned before its rated life |
What to look for in a supplier
- Current pressure test certificates and a legible hose history for every length in the string, not just the newest ones.
- Manifold table compatibility confirmed before the hose is ordered, not discovered at the first transfer.
- Float condition verified by weight check, since a waterlogged float looks intact but no longer supports the hose.
- Bridles and lifting gear rated and certified separately from the hose itself.
Flake the hose in long, even bights on deck before lowering it; a hose stowed in tight coils will kink the moment it takes a load, and that kink is where it fails.
Models in this type.
The best-documented model of each manufacturer first, then the next — 45 of 45 models in Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose. Every row links to full specifications, documents and service notes.
Manufacturers.
All 7 manufacturers with models of Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose. Names with a manufacturer page open it; the others open a search across the full library.
All manufacturers in the libraryAlso in Cargo Hoses & Manifolds.
The other equipment types in this category.
Write to us about this model — the answer comes by e-mail.
Name the make and the model and what the job is: a spare, a service call, a second opinion on a data sheet. We answer by e-mail.
No details at hand? A photo of the rating plate or the part is enough — simply attach it to the request.
Questions that come up with this equipment.
Is Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose data free?
Yes. Every model page, every guide and every datasheet for this type is readable without an account. An account adds saved searches and requests, nothing is taken away.
My model is missing — what now?
Send us the nameplate. We identify it by hand, add it to the library, and if you need a part or a service, the request is already on our desk.
Can you source a Ship-to-Ship Cargo Hose part?
Yes. Tell us the manufacturer, the model and what you need — a person reads every request and replies by e-mail.