Active Heave Compensation
Work in Conditions That Used to Stop Operations
Take the fast track to Active Heave Compensation, configure, test, and tune yourself at a fraction of the cost of integrated AHC systems.
AHC in weeks, not months - retrofit to any hydraulic or electric winch
No sea trials, no custom programming, no expensive experts required
Configure to match your application, test, and tune yourself at a fraction of the cost.
AHC systems installed
400+
1,400+
Vessels worldwide
AAA
Financial rating
1988
Independent since
Advantages of Scantrol AHC
Heave motion caused by waves and wave motion can affect offshore installations and lifting operations. Scantrol AHC actively compensates for vessel movement to keep the load stable, ensuring safer and more efficient offshore operations in all sea states.
No Need for Expensive Sea Trials
Save cost on engineering, hardware, installation and commissioning.
No Need for a Specialist
Integrate yourself.
No programming needed.
Test and tune at dockside.
Free OTA Assistance
Free Over The Air assistance, maintenance, and training for integrators, commissioning engineers, and operators.
No Hidden Costs
mTrack AHC Controller
The off-the-shelf AHC controller that brings active heave compensation to all winches and cranes
Off-the-shelf AHC controller with integrated MRU - no separate sensor required
Pre-defined apps for winch, crane, LARS, and cylinder - no custom programming needed
Auto Calibration and Dynatest included - commission at dockside, no sea trials
Includes all the tools you need for easy installation - no need for expensive experts
Minimize Risk. Maximize Control
Stable AHC control at extreme depth minimizes operational risk, supports uptime, and protects valuable subsea assets. See how Scantrol AHC eliminates payload swing and tension spikes at 2356m depth.
Pre-Configured AHC Applications
Marine & Subsea Operations
AHC for ROV Deployment
Stable ROV launch, recovery, and docking in rough seas
Increase the weather window of your ROV operations with an Active Heave Compensation system that stabilises the TMS and provides safe docking even in bad weather conditions.
AHC for Offshore Cranes
Active Heave Compensation improves offshore crane performance by minimizing vessel-induced motion, making precise lifting possible even on cranes from: 1 to 150+ tonnes.
Improved lifting precision on 1 to 150+ tonnes cranes
AHC for Intervention
Precise motion control for demanding subsea intervention
Active Heave Compensation combines winch and cylinder control with an integrated MRU to reduce wave impact and ensure safe, efficient intervention operations offshore.
AHC for Boulder Clearance
Active Heave Compensation ensures smooth lifting and precise control of grabs and salvage equipment, reducing strain on systems and increasing uptime during offshore operations.
Controlled lifting and accurate load handling in all conditions
AHC for Drilling
Stable bit weight and displacement control in variable conditions
Active Heave Compensation enhances passive heave systems by improving load stability, making it ideal for subsea drilling and coring operations where precision is critical.
Marine Research Operations
AHC for Scientific Equipment
Accurate data collection despite vessel motion
Active Heave Compensation improves the stability of sampling equipment and sensors, ensuring reliable scientific data collection even in rough sea conditions.
Active Heave Compensation for Towing Operations
Avoid degrading your research data
Whether you are towing a sonar or other survey equipment, Scantrol AHC will keep it stable at a certain depth or follow the seabed profile. The system maintains consistent performance in offshore operations and enables stable, efficient towing regardless of waves or passive systems used.
mTrack for Unmanned Operations
30+ mTracks delivered for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV)
mTrack Active Heave Compensation controllers are used to control the Umbilical Management Systems (UMS), enabling safe and reliable remote launch and recovery of electric ROVs in fully unmanned offshore operations.
More Operations Supported
Scantrol has been used in everything from deepwater diamond recovery to discovering legendary shipwrecks under Antarctic ice.
This brochure shows real-world installations from vessels operating in some of the harshest environments on the planet.
Choosing an Active Heave Compensation Supplier
Scantrol supplies the AHC control system for your winch, crane or LARS: the mTrack controller with integrated MRU and pre-defined apps for winch, LARS, crane and cylinder. mTrack is used by winch and crane manufacturers worldwide, including partners across North America, Europe, and Asia.
mTrack is designed to integrate with a wide range of electric and hydraulic winch, crane and LARS systems from different manufacturers through industrial communication interfaces including Profinet and Modbus/TCP. Integration scope and achievable performance depend on available control system interfaces, signal access and the dynamic capabilities of the equipment. Learn more about how mTrack integrates with your winch or crane control system.
What to compare when choosing an AHC system
| Selection criteria | What to compare | mTrack by Scantrol |
|---|---|---|
| Control interfaces | Which industrial communication interfaces does the controller support, and do they match the PLC or control system on your winch or crane? | Profinet and Modbus/TCP. |
| Multiple winches | How many winches or cylinders can one controller compensate at the same time? | mTrack controls up to three winches or cylinders simultaneously. |
| Performance | Maximum wire speed and the vessel motion the system can compensate. Check whether motion figures are stated peak-to-peak or as amplitude, and at which wave period. | mTrack: up to 1.5 m/s wire speed and approximately 4 m of vessel motion. mTrack+: up to 3.0 m/s wire speed and up to 8 m of vessel motion. Vessel motion is peak-to-peak at a 10 second wave period. |
| Load capacity | Is the load capacity limited by the controller, or by the winch or cylinder it controls? | mTrack has no inherent load capacity limit. Achievable AHC performance is determined by the winch or cylinder characteristics, including available speed, torque and power. |
| Commissioning | Where is AHC commissioned, tuned and verified: at dockside or at sea? | Commission AHC at dockside, no sea trials required. Auto Calibration and Dynatest included. Test and tune at dockside. |
| Tools and support | Which tuning, analysis and diagnostic tools are included with the system, and for how long is remote support included? | All six AHC Toolbox tools are included with Scantrol AHC. OTA assistance included free of charge for the duration of the warranty period. |
| Track record | How many AHC systems has the supplier delivered, for how long, and in which markets? | 400+ AHC systems installed. Delivering AHC systems and upgrades since 2010. Customers on six continents. |
What our Customers are Saying
“Operating in Brazil on our first job has been met with many environmental challenges, but thanks to the design and robustness of the LARS systems and superb AHC, we continued operating in sea conditions usually too extreme for today’s ROV systems”
- Tony Manocchio, ROV Superintendent, EMAS AMC
“The mTrack units are very user friendly, the support team is super responsive, and the unit itself is consistently reliable offshore.”
– Sara Patterson, Director of Operations, C-LARS
“When working to depths of 6000m, precision control of the payload is imperative. The proven capability and ease of integration of the mTrack made it an easy choice. The combined technologies offer full AHC with infinity variable speed control up to 2 m/s, the ideal combination
- Andy Lawson, Director at Parkburn
“Scantrol has been very helpful in assisting Fugro to incorporate field-proven AHC solutions into our existing LARS packages without the need for major and expensive re-engineering activities or doubling the size of the hydraulic power unit. Scantrol listens to what we need and provides practical and achievable solutions.”
- William Lee, Managing Director, Fugro Subsea Technologies
Add Value to your New Winch with Scantrol AHC
The easiest way to add AHC is by connecting the mTrack controller to your own winch control system. If you need a complete control package, Scantrol can deliver that as well.
We offer free design support for active heave compensation systems, including:
• Guiding on AHC requirements for specific applications
• Advice on selection of hydraulic winches or electric drives and components
• AHC Analyzer for calculation of AHC performance and required power, speed, and torque
How to Retrofit mTrack to Existing Winches
Many winches are suitable for AHC operation, reuse of your winch represents a major cost reduction compared to buying a new winch and results in a reduced carbon footprint. We can help you determine if your winch is suitable for AHC.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Active heave compensation is used on ROV support vessels, survey vessels, DSVs, SOVs, CSO vessels, WTIVs, PSVs, MPSVs, and unmanned surface vessels. Typical operations include ROV launch and recovery, offshore crane lifts, LARS systems, subsea drilling and coring, scientific data collection, boulder clearance, and towing. Scantrol AHC is installed on 400+ systems across these vessel types and operations.
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mTrack connects to any existing winch or crane using standard Profinet or Modbus communication, regardless of brand. This differs from integrated AHC systems, which typically require new, purpose-built hardware tied to one manufacturer. Retrofitting existing equipment avoids the cost of a full hardware replacement.
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A traditional AHC system is built into new winch or crane hardware, typically proprietary to one manufacturer, and usually requires custom PLC work and sea trials. An AHC controller like mTrack connects to both new and existing equipment of any brand, using pre-defined apps and dockside testing with Dynatest instead of sea trials.
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Commissioning time depends on the application and existing equipment. Scantrol has delivered and commissioned a complete AHC system in under 4 hours in one documented case (Aleron Subsea). Dockside testing with Dynatest, rather than offshore sea trials, is the main factor reducing commissioning time versus traditional AHC systems.
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Retrofitting an existing winch or crane with an AHC controller avoids the capital cost of new equipment, and removing the need for sea trials and specialist commissioning further reduces project cost. Scantrol does not publish pricing; contact Scantrol for a quote based on your specific application.
Have questions or would you like to discuss your project?
If you have any questions about AHC, your application, or next steps, you are welcome to reach out directly.
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
We are happy to review your setup, answer technical questions, or schedule a meeting