Your vessel is taking on cargo oil when a small leak develops in the hose. You order the pumping stopped. Before you resume pumping, which of the following actions should you perform?

Replacing the hose is the appropriate action to take after a small leak develops during the transfer of cargo oil. When a leak occurs, it is essential to ensure the integrity of the equipment used in the transfer process to prevent any further releases of oil, which could lead to environmental hazards and safety risks. A compromised hose can lead to larger leaks if not replaced, posing significant threats to both the vessel and surrounding waters.

Choosing to replace the hose ensures that the cargo transfer can resume safely, adhering to the best practices in handling hazardous materials. Equipment that shows any signs of leakage should be taken out of service rather than patched or temporarily managed. Other options could provide short-term solutions or merely mitigate the problem, but they do not address the underlying issue of compromised equipment integrity. Therefore, replacing the hose provides the most reliable and responsible means of ensuring safety and compliance before resuming operations.