A riser bearing, comprising: a pressure housing having a top and a bottom; a flange secured to the top of the pressure housing, the flange having an inner surface oriented towards the bottom of the pressure housing; a load carrying bearing, the load carrying bearing being a composite laminated bearing having a plurality of elastomeric members and non-extensible shims, wherein the elastomeric members and non-extensible shims are laminated together with an outer elastomeric member oriented towards and incorporated with the inner surface of the flange and an inner elastomeric member oppositely positioned from the outer elastomeric member; a first end plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface oriented towards and incorporated with the inner elastomeric member of the load carrying bearing; an intermediate flange proximate to and engaged with the inner surface of the first end plate; a sealing bearing, the sealing bearing being a composite laminated bearing having a plurality of elastomeric members and non-extensible shims, wherein the elastomeric members and non-extensible shims are laminated together with an outer elastomeric member oriented towards and incorporated with the inner surface of the intermediate flange and an inner elastomeric member oppositely positioned from the outer elastomeric member; a second end plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface oriented towards and incorporated with the inner elastomeric member of the sealing bearing; characterized by a sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sleeve has an upper ring and a lower ring, the sleeve bonded to the upper and lower rings (270, 272); and wherein the outer surface of the sleeve is positioned proximate to at least the sealing bearing and wherein the sleeve is configured to provide both a fluid barrier and a thermal barrier between a central bore of the riser bearing and the sealing bearing. a pressure housing having a top and a bottom; a flange secured to the top of the pressure housing, the flange having an inner surface oriented towards the bottom of the pressure housing; a load carrying bearing, the load carrying bearing being a composite laminated bearing having a plurality of elastomeric members and non-extensible shims, wherein the elastomeric members and non-extensible shims are laminated together with an outer elastomeric member oriented towards and incorporated with the inner surface of the flange and an inner elastomeric member oppositely positioned from the outer elastomeric member; a first end plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface oriented towards and incorporated with the inner elastomeric member of the load carrying bearing; an intermediate flange proximate to and engaged with the inner surface of the first end plate; a sealing bearing, the sealing bearing being a composite laminated bearing having a plurality of elastomeric members and non-extensible shims, wherein the elastomeric members and non-extensible shims are laminated together with an outer elastomeric member oriented towards and incorporated with the inner surface of the intermediate flange and an inner elastomeric member oppositely positioned from the outer elastomeric member; a second end plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface oriented towards and incorporated with the inner elastomeric member of the sealing bearing; characterized by a sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sleeve has an upper ring and a lower ring, the sleeve bonded to the upper and lower rings (270, 272); and wherein the outer surface of the sleeve is positioned proximate to at least the sealing bearing and wherein the sleeve is configured to provide both a fluid barrier and a thermal barrier between a central bore of the riser bearing and the sealing bearing.