YawSTOP
In lifting operations, several factors increase the risk for personnel injury and damage to equipment. Some of these factors (e.g. heave) are eliminated, but horizontal rotation around the vertical axis (so called yaw) still constitutes a problem. There is at present no practical solution for controlling the yaw-motion of a cargo. The common solution to this problem is to use taglines, which requires personnel in the lifting zone.
YawSTOP is a device designed to control and stabilize rotation around the vertical axis. With its retrofit design, it is to be mounted between the crane wire and the cargo without any modifications to existing lifting equipment. The YawSTOP is powered by batteries and will continue to control the cargo as long as the system has enough energy. The batteries will provide sufficient power for a full shift, and then the crane operator can alternatively dock the YawSTOP in the docking station for reloading or replace the batteries, thus making the YawSTOP operational again.
In offshore lifting operations, cranes mounted on a rig must compensate for motions created by the waves, current and wind. There has been developed solutions that compensate for nearly all of these motions. If an offshore crane is fitted with a HEAVE compensator and the supply boat has a dynamic positioning system, lifting operations can be performed with a significantly reduced risk for damage to equipment or personnel. However, today, the yaw is controlled by taglines requiring personnel in the lifting zone or by stopping the rotation on the rails of the vessel risking damage to both the vessel and the cargo.
Adding the retrofit YawSTOP to the lifting equipment, eliminates this final risk. As part of the YawSTOP project the special requirements within the offshore industry to use a forerunner, is met by adding additional equipment developed by KCL.
YawSTOP will improve work safety and working conditions in both offshore and in general the work safety and conditions for all kinds of lifting and loading operations in other industries such as construction and manufacturing. By eliminating personnel within the dangerous areas by remote- controlled rotation of the cargo, the risk of accidents and fatal injuries will be significantly reduced. By reducing the overall time for lifting and loading operations, YawSTOP will additionally contribute to environmental savings by reducing CO2/NOx/SOx emissions from the supply vessels and cranes at sea reducing energy consumption (less fuel). The YawSTOP solution will improve transportation and especially the lifting and loading of cargo and goods by sea and in rural and remote areas along the European coast and islands. Thus, YawSTOP will contribute to the European transport and mobility goals defined in the 2011 Transport White Paper by increasing the efficiency of transport and infrastructure, supporting the EU becoming world leader in safety and security of transport.
The objectives can be grouped into three categories and achieving them will bring us global market uptake.
1) Technology maturation objectives to optimize YawSTOP.
2) Pilot and validation objectives to demonstrate and validate the commercial potential of the YawSTOP in actual end-user operating environments. The piloting activities will elevate YawSTOP.
3) Market maturation, communication and innovation management objectives enabling us to successfully bring YawSTOP to market and reach sales transactions during or post project.
