High-Quality Floating Hose for Dredging & Marine Applications | Durable & Flexible-Luoyang Max Pipe Industry Co., Ltd.

Product Features

Floating Hose Features

Inherent Buoyancy (Self-Floating Capability)

This is the most defining feature. The hose body incorporates a closed-cell foam buoyancy layer, typically made of polyethylene (PE) foam. This layer is sealed and integrated into the hose structure, ensuring it floats. Reserve Buoyancy: Hoses are designed with a reserve buoyancy of 20% or more. This means they will still float on the surface even when completely full of the intended fluid (e.g., dense slurry or crude oil).

Robust Multi-Layer Construction

A floating hose is not a single piece of rubber; it's a composite structure built in layers for maximum performance. Inner Tube (Liner): The innermost layer, in direct contact with the fluid. Its material is chosen based on the application: Dredging: Made of thick, highly abrasion-resistant natural rubber (NR) or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) to withstand sand, gravel, and rock. Oil & Gas: Made of smooth, oil-resistant synthetic rubber like Nitrile (NBR) to prevent degradation from hydrocarbons. Reinforcement Layers: Multiple layers of high-tensile steel wire helixes and synthetic fabric (like polyester or nylon) are embedded in the rubber. These provide the strength to handle high internal pressures, resist kinking, and withstand external forces. Buoyancy Layer: The closed-cell foam layer described above. Outer Cover: The outermost layer is the hose's armor. It is made from a tough synthetic rubber compound designed to resist abrasion, weathering, UV radiation, ozone, and saltwater corrosion.

High Visibility and Safety

Safety in marine environments is paramount. Floating hoses are designed to be easily seen. Bright Colors: The outer cover is typically a bright, international orange or yellow to make it highly visible to vessel traffic, preventing collisions. Reflective Markings: Often equipped with reflective tape or bands for enhanced visibility during night operations or in low-light conditions.

Exceptional Flexibility

Despite their size and strength, floating hoses are designed to be flexible. Bending Radius: They have a specified minimum bending radius that allows them to move with waves and vessel drift without collapsing or getting damaged. This flexibility is crucial for connecting to moving systems like dredgers or offloading buoys.

Durable and Secure End Fittings

The connection points are a critical part of the hose system. Built-in Steel Flanges: The most common type of fitting. These steel flanges are vulcanized (chemically bonded) directly into the hose end during manufacturing, creating a strong, leak-proof seal. The flanges allow hoses to be bolted together to create longer pipelines. Swivel Flanges: One or both flanges may be designed to swivel, making it easier to align and connect bolt holes without twisting the entire hose.

Wear Indicators (for Dredging Hoses)

To improve safety and prevent costly failures, many dredging hoses feature a colored wear indicator layer. This is a thin, brightly colored rubber layer placed just beneath the main inner tube. If this color becomes visible, it signals that the hose has worn down and needs to be replaced before it fails.

PRODUCT FEATURES

HDPE Pipe Production Process

Floating Hose Technological Process

STEP 01

Mandrel Preparation

The process begins with a long, rigid steel pole called a mandrel. The mandrel's diameter determines the inner diameter of the hose. It is thoroughly cleaned and coated with a release agent to ensure the finished hose can be easily removed.

STEP 02

Building the Inner Liner

Sheets of unvulcanized rubber compound (chosen for its chemical compatibility with the fluid) are carefully wrapped around the mandrel. The seams are meticulously stitched and rolled to create a single, seamless, leak-proof tube. This layer's integrity is critical to prevent leaks.

STEP 03

Applying Reinforcement Layers

This is a multi-stage step to build the hose's strength:

Fabric Plies: Rubber-impregnated synthetic fabric sheets are wrapped at a precise bias angle around the inner liner. Multiple layers are applied, with the angle of each layer often opposing the previous one to provide balanced strength against pressure and torque.

Steel Wire Helix: A high-tensile steel wire is wound in a spiral (helix) around the fabric layers. This wire provides crucial structural support, preventing the hose from kinking when bent and collapsing under vacuum conditions.

Embedding Plies: More fabric layers are applied over the steel helix to fully embed it within the hose wall.

STEP 04

Integrating the Flotation Layer

Precisely cut segments or sheets of closed-cell foam are fitted snugly around the reinforced hose body. This layer must be uniform in thickness to ensure consistent buoyancy along the entire length of the hose. It is carefully built up to the required diameter.

STEP 05

Applying the Outer Cover

Sheets of the durable, weather-resistant outer rubber compound are wrapped over the foam layer. This forms the protective outer shell. Often, a final layer with a textured or "wrapped" finish is applied for better grip and abrasion resistance. A bright orange warning stripe may be included.

STEP 06

Flange Integration and Capping

The pre-fabricated steel flanges are positioned at each end of the hose. The various rubber and reinforcement layers are wrapped over and through the flange nipple, and the end is sealed with rubber. This process ensures the flange is an integral part of the hose body, creating an extremely strong and leak-proof connection once cured.

STEP 07

Curing (Vulcanization)

This is the most critical step, where the raw, soft rubber components are transformed into a single, tough, and elastic product.

Wrapping: The entire hose assembly on the mandrel is tightly wrapped with nylon or polyester curing tape. This applies pressure, consolidating all the layers and squeezing out any trapped air.

Autoclaving: The wrapped hose is loaded into a large, pressurized steam oven called an autoclave. It is "cooked" under high pressure and temperature for several hours. This vulcanization process cross-links the polymer molecules in the rubber, giving the hose its final strength, flexibility, and durability.

STEP 08

Demolding and Finishing

After the vulcanization cycle is complete and the hose has cooled, the outer curing tape is removed. The hose is then carefully extracted from the mandrel using hydraulic or mechanical force. The ends are trimmed, the flange faces are cleaned, and the hose is stenciled with its specifications, including serial number, pressure rating, and manufacturing date.

Our Products Are Everywhere

Industry Applications

This is the largest and most critical market for floating hoses. They are essential for: Single Point Mooring (SPM) Systems: Hoses connect a tanker to a mooring buoy (like a CALM Buoy - Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring), which is anchored to the seabed and connected to a subsea pipeline. This allows tankers to load or unload crude oil far from the coast. Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessels: Floating hoses are used for "offloading," transferring processed crude oil from the FPSO to a shuttle tanker for transport to shore. Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfers: In open water, floating hoses provide the flexible link to transfer cargo (like oil or LNG) between two vessels moored alongside each other.

Offshore Oil & Gas (The Primary Application)

The dredging industry relies heavily on floating hoses to transport dredged material. Transporting Slurry: A dredger excavates sand, silt, or gravel from the seabed. A floating hose line then transports this abrasive slurry from the dredger to a discharge point on shore for land reclamation or to a disposal site. These hoses are built with highly abrasion-resistant inner linings.

Dredging and Land Reclamation

Similar to dredging, floating hoses are used in mining for: Tailings and Slurry Transport: Transporting mine tailings (waste material) or processed ore slurry across settling ponds or other bodies of water to a disposal or processing area.

Mining Operations

Bunkering: Providing fuel (bunker oil) to ships moored at a distance from the main fuel depot. Liquid Cargo Transfer: Loading or unloading a wide range of liquid products where fixed jetty connections are unavailable.

Port and Harbor Operations

HDPE Pipe FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

01 · What is a floating hose?: A floating hose is a type of flexible pipeline used to transfer fluids (such as slurry, crude oil, or water) in marine or dredging operations. It is designed with buoyant materials to float on the water’s surface, enabling easy handling and alignment.

02 · Where are floating hoses commonly used?: Floating hoses are commonly used in: Dredging operations Offshore oil transfer Floating LNG terminals Marine fuel/oil bunkering Floating pontoons and discharge lines

03 · What are floating hoses made of?: Typical materials include: Inner lining: Rubber or synthetic material resistant to the transported medium (e.g., oil, slurry) Reinforcement: High-tensile textile or steel cords Outer cover: UV- and abrasion-resistant rubber Buoyancy layer: Closed-cell foam or other lightweight material

04 · What are the advantages of floating hoses?: Easy to deploy and retrieve Can handle harsh marine environments Provide flexibility in fluid transfer Minimize risk of submersion or kinking Visible on water due to bright color or markers

05 · What is the difference between a floating hose and a submarine hose?: Floating Hose: Designed to float on water; easier to access and maintain. Submarine Hose: Sinks and operates underwater; used when surface hoses are not suitable due to wave action or navigation.

06 · How is buoyancy maintained in floating hoses?: Buoyancy is maintained using a foam layer or floating collars that ensure the hose remains on the water surface, even when fully loaded with fluid.

07 · What diameters and lengths are available?: Standard diameters range from 150 mm to 900 mm (6" to 36"), and lengths can be customized based on project requirements. Always check manufacturer specifications.

08 · How long does a floating hose last?: Lifespan depends on usage conditions, material quality, and maintenance, but typically ranges from 3 to 7 years under normal conditions.

09 · How do you maintain a floating hose?: Regular visual inspections for wear or damage Pressure testing for leaks Cleaning after use, especially with abrasive slurry Storing in shaded or sheltered areas when not in use

010 · Can floating hoses be used in rough sea conditions?: Yes, but they must be properly engineered with reinforced materials and secure connections to withstand wave impact and strong currents.

011 · Are floating hoses environmentally safe?: Modern floating hoses are designed with high-integrity seals and robust construction to minimize the risk of spills. Some versions comply with environmental safety standards.

012 · Can floating hoses be customized?: Yes, manufacturers offer customization for: Length and diameter Pressure rating Lining material End connections (flanged, quick-coupling, etc.) UV protection and reflective markers