A length of load bearing flexible conduit for use in a body of water and adapted for deployment from a reel located on a water going vessel into the body of water, the load bearing flexible conduit comprising:- an inner substantially leak proof layer having a throughbore for carrying fluids; a load bearing outer layer; a further outer protective covering; and a termination (14U, 14L; 18U, 18L) at each end, wherein each termination comprises a load transfer mechanism to transfer load from the termination to the load bearing outer layer of the length of the load bearing flexible conduit; wherein the load transfer mechanism comprises:- an insert; and a generally cylindrical ferrule member secured to the respective outer end of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit, said generally cylindrical ferrule member crimping said respective outer end of the respective length of the load bearing conduit on said insert; wherein the respective load bearing outer layer of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit is located over the ferrule member; wherein the load bearing flexible conduit is sufficiently flexible such that it is capable of being stored, prior to use, on a reel and is further capable of being at least partially payed out from the reel into the body of water during use; wherein the load transfer mechanism further comprises a generally cylindrical body member having an enlarged diameter portion (58U, 58M); wherein the enlarged diameter portion (58U, 58M) further comprises an angled inner surface against which is located an angled member in the form of a wedge-shaped member; and a cap member secured to the generally cylindrical body member; wherein said cap member comprises an inwardly projecting shoulder which abuts against an outer end of the ferrule member and thereby transmits axially directed force between the ferrule member and the cap member; wherein an outermost end of the load bearing outer layer is embedded in the wedge-shaped member between the ferrule member and the angled inner surface and is further secured between the angled inner surface and the cap member such that the load is capable of being transferred from the termination (14U, 14L; 18U, 18L) to the ferrule member to the cap member to the generally cylindrical body member to the wedge-shaped member to the load bearing outer layer. an inner substantially leak proof layer having a throughbore for carrying fluids; a load bearing outer layer; a further outer protective covering; and a termination (14U, 14L; 18U, 18L) at each end, wherein each termination comprises a load transfer mechanism to transfer load from the termination to the load bearing outer layer of the length of the load bearing flexible conduit; wherein the load transfer mechanism comprises:- an insert; and a generally cylindrical ferrule member secured to the respective outer end of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit, said generally cylindrical ferrule member crimping said respective outer end of the respective length of the load bearing conduit on said insert; wherein the respective load bearing outer layer of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit is located over the ferrule member; wherein the load bearing flexible conduit is sufficiently flexible such that it is capable of being stored, prior to use, on a reel and is further capable of being at least partially payed out from the reel into the body of water during use; wherein the load transfer mechanism further comprises a generally cylindrical body member having an enlarged diameter portion (58U, 58M); wherein the enlarged diameter portion (58U, 58M) further comprises an angled inner surface against which is located an angled member in the form of a wedge-shaped member; and a cap member secured to the generally cylindrical body member; wherein said cap member comprises an inwardly projecting shoulder which abuts against an outer end of the ferrule member and thereby transmits axially directed force between the ferrule member and the cap member; wherein an outermost end of the load bearing outer layer is embedded in the wedge-shaped member between the ferrule member and the angled inner surface and is further secured between the angled inner surface and the cap member such that the load is capable of being transferred from the termination (14U, 14L; 18U, 18L) to the ferrule member to the cap member to the generally cylindrical body member to the wedge-shaped member to the load bearing outer layer.