AHC for Offshore Cranes, Retrofit-Ready, No Sea Trials
Active heave compensation for offshore cranes is a control system that measures vessel heave in real time and adjusts crane wire payout to keep a suspended load stationary relative to the seabed, regardless of wave motion. Without AHC, crane operations are limited by sea state, increasing risk, reducing uptime, and forcing costly weather standby.
mTrack is an off-the-shelf AHC controller with integrated MRU, designed for offshore cranes from 1 to 150+ tonnes. It supports both new-build and retrofit installations on any crane or winch brand, using pre-configured Profinet and Modbus modules that require no custom PLC programming. Commissioning is done at dockside using Dynatest, no sea trials required. Unlike AHC systems bundled into new cranes, mTrack integrates into existing equipment, giving crane manufacturers and vessel operators a faster, more cost-effective route to heave compensation.
Why Offshore Crane Operations Need AHC
Offshore cranes operate in dynamic conditions where vessel heave, the vertical motion caused by waves, is transferred directly into the load. The consequences range from reduced precision and increased mechanical stress to complete shutdown when sea states exceed safe operating limits.
AHC removes this constraint. By actively compensating for vessel motion at the winch level, mTrack keeps crane loads stable during subsea placement, equipment handling, and tool deployment, extending the operational weather window and reducing wear on crane wire, sheaves, and structural components.
For crane manufacturers and system integrators, offering AHC as a feature without months of custom engineering is the difference between winning a contract and losing it to a competitor who already does.
Install mTrack AHC Controller and take the Vessel Motion out of the Equation
• mTrack is a game-changer that makes AHC affordable even for small cranes.
• Off-the-shelf AHC Controller with integrated MRU and all the tools you need for easy installation and commissioning.
• Can be used with both new and existing electric and hydraulic winches.
• Test and tune in your factory or at the dockside.
Scantrol AHC can be used to Improve Safety and Efficiency in a range of Crane Applications
Subsea Cranes
mTrack is installed on subsea cranes ranging from 1 to over 150 tonnes. The system handles the full load range without hardware changes, only configuration adjusts for crane size and drive type.
Renewable Service Vessels
mTrack is used on small and medium-sized service cranes aboard offshore wind service vessels (SOVs and CSOVs), where reliable, low-maintenance AHC is required for tool deployment and equipment handling in variable North Sea and Atlantic conditions.
Offshore Wind Service Cranes
The offshore wind sector requires AHC-capable cranes that can be commissioned quickly and operated without specialist support on-site. In collaboration with OEM partners, Scantrol delivers mTrack-based AHC for wind installation and service applications.
This brochure brings together documented mTrack AHC use cases from real offshore operations.
It shows how operators reduce the impact of vessel motion, work safely in rough seas, and complete time-critical missions when conditions would normally stop operations.
mTrack AHC Case Studies
How 300+ Vessels Work in Conditions That Used to Stop Operations
For Crane Manufacturers and System Integrators
mTrack is available for crane and winch manufacturers who want to offer AHC as a standard or optional feature without carrying the engineering overhead of developing a proprietary system.
Pre-configured Profinet and Modbus PLC modules
Integrated MRU
AHC Toolbox for factory testing and dockside commissioning
Free OTA remote support and training for your engineering and installation teams
Dynatest for verification without sea trials
Adding AHC to your crane product line does not require months of R&D. mTrack gives your team a configurable, proven controller that can be standardised across your product range.
Many offshore cranes already in service can be upgraded to AHC without replacing mechanical components. A crane winch with a maximum line speed of 50–80 m/min will typically compensate for 3–4 m of vessel motion, which is sufficient for most offshore crane applications.
Retrofitting with mTrack means:
Existing crane mechanics stay in place
Only the control layer is upgraded
No specialist on-site required during installation
Performance verified at dockside with Dynatest before the vessel sails
→ Get Free AHC Capacity Analysis
→ How to retrofit mTrack to existing cranes
Retrofit an Existing Crane with AHC
Anything you would like to discuss or learn more about?
Fill out the form below or contact one of our experts
Suzy Zhu
International Sales Manager
Email: suzy@scantrol.com
Phone: +47 465 20 370
Jan Kjærstad
CEO
Email: jan.kjarstad@scantrol.com
Phone: +47 911 59 434
Henry Boddington,
International Sales Manager
Email: henry@scantrol.com
Phone: +47 901 57 044
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Active heave compensation for offshore cranes is a system that measures vessel heave via a motion reference unit and adjusts crane wire payout in real time to keep the suspended load stationary relative to the seabed. mTrack from Scantrol delivers this capability as an off-the-shelf controller compatible with any crane brand from 1 to 150+ tonnes.
-
Yes. mTrack installs alongside the existing control system on most offshore cranes without replacing mechanical components. It uses standard Profinet or Modbus integration and requires no custom PLC programming. The AHC Analyzer confirms whether the existing crane winch meets the line-speed requirements for AHC.
-
No. mTrack is available as an OEM module for crane and winch manufacturers. It includes pre-configured PLC modules, integrated MRU, and the full AHC Toolbox, so manufacturers can offer AHC as a product feature without developing proprietary control software. Palfinger and ACE Winches are confirmed OEM partners.
-
No. mTrack includes Dynatest, which simulates vessel motion at the crane factory or dockside to verify AHC performance before offshore deployment. This eliminates the cost and delay of traditional sea trials.
-
mTrack is installed on offshore cranes from 1 ton to 150+ tonnes, covering small service cranes on wind SOVs through to larger subsea cranes. This makes AHC viable on crane sizes where bundled solutions from larger suppliers are typically not cost-effective.