YawSTOP · Project

Anti-Rotation Device That Makes Crane and Helicopter Lifting Faster, Safer, and Cheaper

transportPilotedTRL 8

Ever watched a heavy load dangling from a crane, spinning wildly in the wind while workers scramble with ropes to control it? That spinning is dangerous, wastes time, and shuts down operations in bad weather. YawSTOP built a device you attach between the crane hook and the cargo that stops the spinning entirely — or lets you rotate the load precisely where you want it, all controlled by one person with a remote. Think of it like power steering for hanging loads, whether from a construction crane, an offshore vessel, or a helicopter.

By the numbers

44%

Time savings for lifting operations

52%

Cost savings for lifting operations

€50,000

Minimum savings per transport

€169m

Projected accumulated revenues over 5 years post-project

1,129

YawSTOP devices projected to be sold in 5 years

€374m

Accumulated cost savings for end-users

50,544 tonnes

CO2 emissions reduction target

1,435 tonnes

NOx emissions reduction target

319 tonnes

SOx emissions reduction target

New employees expected post-project

The business problem

What needed solving

Crane and helicopter lifting operations lose massive time and money to uncontrolled load rotation. Workers risk injury managing taglines, operations shut down in bad weather, and every wasted hour offshore costs thousands. There is no widely adopted automated solution to stop loads from spinning — operators still rely on manual rope crews and hope for calm conditions.

The solution

What was built

A full-scale anti-rotation stabilisation device with a complete system including housing, battery pack, parking station, and wireless remote control unit. All components were prototyped at full scale and integrated into a working pilot tested in real operating environments across offshore/maritime, onshore, and helicopter sectors.

Audience

Who needs this

Offshore supply vessel operators running crane transfers to oil/gas platformsHeavy lift crane rental and contracting companiesHelicopter external load service providers (power lines, forestry, mountain logistics)Port and terminal operators handling heavy or oversized cargoWind farm installation and maintenance companies using crane vessels

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Offshore Oil & Gas Logistics

enterprise

Target: Offshore supply vessel operators and platform logistics companies

If you are an offshore logistics operator dealing with costly weather delays and dangerous spinning loads during crane transfers between vessels and platforms — this project developed a full-scale stabilisation device that eliminates uncontrolled rotation, allowing operations in rougher conditions. The project demonstrated up to 44% time savings and 52% cost savings per lifting operation, with at least €50,000 saved per transport.

Heavy Construction & Infrastructure

mid-size

Target: Crane rental companies and heavy lift contractors

If you are a crane operator or heavy lift contractor dealing with tagline crews, weather shutdowns, and safety incidents from spinning loads — this project built a remotely controlled anti-rotation device that lets one operator handle what previously needed a full ground crew. The full-scale pilot was validated across onshore lifting scenarios, targeting 44% time reduction per lift.

Helicopter External Load Operations

mid-size

Target: Helicopter transport and aerial crane service providers

If you are a helicopter service company running external sling-load operations for power line construction, forestry, or mountain logistics — this project developed and piloted a stabilisation device specifically tested for helicopter lifting. Eliminating load spin means fewer aborted drops, faster cycle times, and reduced CO2 emissions from shorter hover times.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does YawSTOP cost, and what is the return on investment?

Specific device pricing is not disclosed in the project data. However, the project reports end-user savings of at least €50,000 per transport operation, with 52% cost reduction on lifting operations. With projected sales of 1129 devices generating €169m in revenue over five years, the implied average price point suggests rapid payback from operational savings alone.

Is this proven at industrial scale or still a lab concept?

This is well past lab stage. The project delivered a full-scale pilot validated in actual end-user operating environments across three market sectors: offshore/maritime, onshore, and helicopter. Multiple full-scale prototypes were built and tested, including the housing, battery system, parking station, and remote control unit.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

YawSTOP was developed by KOLBERG CASPARY LAUTOM AS, a Norwegian SME that owns the technology. As a single-partner SME Phase 2 project, all IP sits with the company. Licensing or purchase arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with them.

How mature is the technology — can I deploy it now?

The project aimed to raise the technology from TRL6 to TRL9 (market-ready). Full-scale prototypes and a pilot were completed by project end in September 2019. The company website (yawstop.com) was established for commercial operations, indicating readiness for deployment.

Does it work with existing crane systems or require new equipment?

Based on the project data, YawSTOP is a standalone stabilisation device that attaches to existing crane hooks and helicopter sling systems. The deliverables include a parking station for storage and a remote control unit, suggesting it is designed as an add-on rather than requiring crane replacement or modification.

What are the environmental benefits?

The project targets reduction of 50,544 tonnes of CO2, 1,435 tonnes of NOx, and 319 tonnes of SOx through shorter operation times and fewer weather-related delays. These reductions come from decreased fuel burn during lifting operations, particularly relevant for offshore vessels and helicopters.

Who has already tested or validated this?

The project worked with three end-users across offshore/maritime, onshore, and helicopter sectors to demonstrate and validate the device. Specific end-user names are not listed in the public project data. The full-scale pilot was reported as up and running by project completion.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project by KOLBERG CASPARY LAUTOM AS, a Norwegian SME that received SME Phase 2 funding — the EU's dedicated instrument for close-to-market innovation by small companies. The 100% industry consortium with zero academic partners signals this is a commercial product, not a research exercise. Norway's strong offshore and maritime industry provides a natural home market. The company previously completed an SME Phase 1 Feasibility Study (GA no 762392), meaning the EU vetted the business case twice before funding the scale-up. For potential buyers or partners, this means you are dealing directly with the technology developer and manufacturer — no complex multi-party IP to navigate.

KOLBERG CASPARY LAUTOM ASCoordinator · NO

How to reach the team

KOLBERG CASPARY LAUTOM AS is a Norwegian SME — contact details available through SciTransfer's matchmaking service

Order a report on this consortium See KOLBERG CASPARY LAUTOM AS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to evaluate YawSTOP for your lifting operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the technology team and help assess fit for your specific use case.

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