Yokohama Rubber subsidiary receives international marine hose certification

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) approved the company’s Seaflex marine hoses 24 January.

The industry's standards are set out in the forum’s 2009 Guide to Manufacturing and Purchasing Hoses for Offshore Moorings. Yokohama's subsidiary, PT Yokohama Industrial Products Manufacturing Indonesia, has been shipping the hoses in compliance with the guide since November 2017, according to a Yokohama press release.

The certification of the subsidiary means that all three of comapny's marine hose plants in Indonesia, Japan and Italy respectively, can ship in compliance with the regulations.

Seaflex floating hoses use a double carcass leak detection system to enable easier inspection. The submarine model does not include this feature, as the oil detector is too sensitive for submerged operation. For submarine hoses, a ‘twist warning system’ is used to create ‘visible change’ in the hose to make a diver’s inspection of the line simpler, according to the company’s website.