At Walker Rubber, many of the components we manufacture quietly do their job in the background. You might not notice them, but they play an important role in keeping equipment working safely as it should, and in some cases, helping to protect lives.
This is true in the case of our long-standing customer, who specialises in the servicing, refurbishment and certification of offshore lifeboats used on oil and gas platforms and rigs around the world. These enclosed capsule lifeboats were originally developed in the late 1960s to allow offshore workers to escape safely during emergencies such as fires, explosions and situations where oil or gas on the water’s surface ignites.
Designed to operate in some of the most extreme conditions, these lifeboats are built from flame-retardant fibreglass and incorporate systems that cool the outside of the vessel with seawater while supplying breathable air internally for both passengers and the engine. They’re complex machines, but once launched, the aim is simple – transport workers away from danger so they can wait for rescue.
Today, our customer’s technicians travel globally to service and refurbish these vessels, as well as at their refurbishment centre here in Norfolk. Altogether, our customer maintains around 700 lifeboats each year across offshore installations in locations ranging from the North Sea to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Over the past five decades, lifeboats they’ve maintained have saved more than 2,500 lives.
The Challenge
Operating in a harsh marine environment takes its toll on every part of a lifeboat. Constant exposure to saltwater, UV, heavy impacts and repeated launches means external components naturally wear over time.
An important and often overlooked element is the rubber fendering fitted around the perimeter of the boat. During launch and recovery, lifeboats can swing against platform structure or vessel sides, particularly in rough conditions. The fendering, made from our toughest EPDM to withstand the harsh environment, protects the hull and helps prevent structural damage at the exact moment the equipment needs to perform flawlessly.
During refurbishment work, our customer identified several lifeboats where the original fendering had deteriorated significantly or been torn away through years of exposure and service. Without effective protection in place, the boats were vulnerable to damage and unsuitable for long-term operational use.
The replacement solution needed to be robust, reliable and delivered quickly to keep refurbishment programmes on schedule.
The Solution
Working closely with our customer, Walker Rubber supplied replacement rubber fendering designed specifically for the demands of offshore lifeboat applications.
The fendering needed to do more than simply fit, it had to withstand repeated impacts, continuous exposure to saltwater and the realities of long-term offshore use. As part of wider refurbishments programmes lifeboats are often stripped down, inspected and rebuilt, sometimes undergoing full “nut and bolt” rebuilds to extend their operational life.
By installing new rubber fendering during refurbishment, the customer could return vessels to service with renewed external protection, ensuring the hull remained protected during launch, recovery and operation.
The Outcome
With new fendering installed, refurbished lifeboats can be returned to service fully protected and ready for operation in demanding offshore environments.
For operators, this means:
- Reduced risk of hull damage during launch and recovery
- Extended service life of existing lifeboats
- Continued compliance with safety and inspection requirements
- Avoiding unnecessary replacement costs and operational downtime
For us at Walker Rubber, it’s a reminder that even simple components can play a critical role. In safety-critical industries, reliability matters – and the right rubber solution helps ensure that lifesaving equipment is ready when it’s needed most.
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