The paper addresses unsteady pressure measurements on the blades and stationary parts of a Kaplan turbine model (Porjus U9) during load variation. The turbine was studied in various load acceptance and load rejection scenarios in off-cam mode to investigate the effect of the transients on the turbine performance. The formation and mitigation processes for the rotating vortex ropes and their effects on the forces exerted on the runner were also investigated. The results show a smooth transition during load variations between high load and the best efficiency point, at which no rotating vortex ropes form in the draft tube. However, load variation to part load resulted in a draft tube surge and the formation of a rotating vortex rope with two fluctuating components: rotating and plunging. The rotating vortex ropes began to form at the end of the draft tube cone during the closure of the guide vanes and travelled upstream with further guide vane closure. The plunging mode induced flow oscillation throughout the entire turbine conduit, whereas the rotating mode resulted in local pressure fluctuations. The rotating vortex ropes induced wide-band pressure fluctuations on the suction side of the runner close to the hub section. The formation of the rotating vortex ropes near the runner resulted in a sudden change in the pressure exerted on the suction side of the blades, whereas the rotating vortex rope mitigation process proceeded in a smooth manner.