Transport by sea is a technically highly demanding business as the ships are exposed to air and sea and a disaster can result in the complete loss of ship and load. This is expensive, and in a worst-case scenario it can cost many lives. State-of-the-art equipment is therefore mandatory, and several LANXESS products contribute to safety at sea. Therban®, for example, is used to increase the life cycle of ship couplings. The hydrated nitrile rubber (HNBR) from Technical Rubber Products (TRP) is much more resistant to heat, oil vapors, and ozone below deck than natural rubber. As TRP rubber expert Martin Mezger points out: “Today’s engines for driving ocean liners as well as smaller yachts are top performers in more than one sense, and they have to function continuously over long periods of time, using the minimum possible amount of a fuel that is difficult to burn. This causes vibrations in the drive shaft.” Uncushioned drive systems can suffer damages and for this reason, a rubber coupling is fitted between engine and drive shaft to dampen vibrations.