Loading arms and hoses
Marine loading arms first made their introduction back in the 1950’s, these original designs consisting of a basic articulated pipe to load and unload liquids and gases from ship to shore.
Since then, the technology has advanced considerably as many manufacturers have entered the market resulting from the increase in global demand for oil and gas products.
Similarly, loading arms and hoses for the transfer of liquids from bulk tanks into rail tank wagons and road tankers have seen considerable development. In both sectors, there has always been a debate in respect of the technologies employed. In the marine sector the debate is between hoses and loading arms and for land-based operations between top and bottom loading units.
Regardless of the arguments for and against these various loading and unloading technologies, it is evident that the never ending demand for fossil fuels and the fast emerging market in biofuels is providing a stimulus to equipment manufacturers, many of which have been investing in product developments to produce safer, more efficient and more flexible technologies.
