Conti hoses suck diamonds from the seabed for De Beers

ERJ staff report (DS)

Hannover, Germany -- Continental is supplying hoses to mining company De Beers, to suck up diamond-containing sand from the sea bed off Namibia's coast.

The floating hoses are up to 200m long and are mounted on a ship which operates as a fully-automated factory to separate diamonds from sand. Specifications include excellent tensile strength, as the hose can be extended by the crawler operating on the sea bed.

Even more important, though, is the wear resistance of its inside tube. Sand and diamonds can be very abrasive. Bendability and flexural strength are likewise important - no small task for a hose with an outer diameter of up to 1.30 m. Every hose is composed of a number of 11-meter-long segments. A section of hose like this may well weigh more than six tonnes and cost as much as a premium luxury car.

The hose's neutral buoyancy plays a key role. Even if it is filled with a mixture of sand, water and diamonds, the hose should more or less hover in the water.

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Press release from Continental