Building Tomorrow Together: Shane Carman

It’s sunrise, and the Freedom, one of the towboats in TVA’s fleet, is rolling down the Tennessee River. At 10 miles per hour, the steady pace of the Freedom is gentle and quiet. But there is more than meets the eye.

This state-of-the-art vessel is the first of its kind being operated by a federal agency, using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to reduce emissions and feed the exhaust back into the system.

Shane Carman, who you might find in the captain’s deck, is a towboat pilot and manager within River Services and CCP Facility Management. He is dedicated to reducing TVA’s carbon footprint.

“We wanted to design a boat that would support a clean energy future,” Carman said. “With the direction TVA is going toward clean power, we thought we need to do that out here on the river, too. So, as we are moving these clean energy components to nuclear sites, we can feel proud that we have a cleaner energy boat that is moving them.”

Not only is the Freedom responsible for transporting valuable assets up and down the Tennessee River, but it is also home to a small crew — one that operates more like a family than anything else. Sometimes, the crew will be on the water for upwards of two weeks. They work together, sharing space, meals and chores.

“The Freedom runs around the clock,” Carman said. "While part of the crew is sleeping, they are relying on their fellow crewmembers to operate the boat in a manner that will keep them safe.  The crewmembers are more than just coworkers.  They are truly family. The crew takes care of each other in a way that no one else at TVA does.”

“It’s all about trust. The plants trust the Freedom with their valuable components. The sleeping crew trusts the pilot and their fellow crewmembers. And we want the public’s trust — that they know there are qualified people on board.

“It’s a whole different world here, and maybe the best kept secret at TVA. We get to enjoy beautiful scenery while working, and I’m honored when I have the privilege to be back on the Freedom.”

As a manager for the group, more of Carman’s days are spent at a desk than on the river.  “Getting here wasn’t easy,” he said, “and the process to become a towboat pilot is even more strenuous now than it was 25 years ago. From deckhand to pilot takes about eight years now, so it’s certainly not for the faint of heart.”

“I want things to be better when I leave than when I got here. Right now, we have several deckhands who are aspiring pilots, and hopefully someday they will be the ones in the captain’s chair. It’s more than just moving cargo. It’s working together and setting ourselves up for success.”