07/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 May, the European Commission confirmed that a Statement of Objections has been sent to a number of companies active in the supply of marine hoses and suspected of being involved in an illegal cartel to control prices. A year ago, Commission officials carried out surprise inspections were carried out at the premises of several marine hoses producers in France, Italy and the United Kingdom as part of an international investigation in collaboration with the US Justice Department. Marine hoses are mainly used to transport crude oil and petroleum products, for example for loading and unloading tanker ships. The German company, Continental AG, which controls the British company Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd and Trellebord from Sweden confirmed that it had received the Commission's statement. Employees from the two companies, as well as staff from the Japanese Bridgestone Corp, were arrested last year in the US, as part of this probe. (C.D.)