Remote Control Monitoring: One More Industry-Leading Solution

At Crowley, each project provides our employees with unique opportunities to contribute and develop the future of the maritime industry while leveraging their drive to innovate and build dynamic and rewarding careers. For example, engineers, construction managers and marine operators have been challenged to improve the efficiency of some Crowley’s vessels by innovating their monitoring functions and protocols.

One such idea came to life during the Remote Control and Monitoring Station (RCMS) development designed for Crowley’s LNG bunker barge, Progress. While working on this project, team members’ actions help  reshape industry standards while advancing their careers.

This new technology, which allows remote control access and monitoring of the barge from up to 1,000 meters away, is an example of how our team’s industry-leading solutions are advancing safer and more efficient operations through technology.  

The RCMS project brought together some of the best of Crowley’s shipping, engineering and technology client support teams — all eager to push the boundaries to create solutions. Some key contributors, including Tucker Gilliam, Brendan Wright and Dean Sahr, recently provided a behind-the-scenes look at how their roles in the RCMS project helped propel a landmark vessel that is moving the industry forward.

The Idea Is Born

Tucker Gilliam, the team leader behind the RCMS concept and vice president of sales and chartering at Crowley Shipping, had the vision to defy the traditional expectations and requirements of tethering-monitoring systems for a vessel. His idea would bring the flexibility and portability of modern technology onboard the LNG barge and redefine its critical monitoring system.

With conventional systems, operators must be on the vessel to monitor the system actively and adjust accordingly to ensure safe operations. Gilliam’s idea introduced wireless capabilities to the monitoring system, allowing the system to function more like a mobile phone — providing the operator real-time monitoring and push notifications from afar. The new system allows mariners and shore staff more freedom and flexibility to focus on other aspects of their performance while monitoring operations from land or onboard.

“The primary challenge was finding a solution that allowed us to monitor the vessel safely without requiring personnel on board 24/7,” Gilliam said. “We wanted a solution that would provide remote access, creating a better quality of life for those assigned to the vessel while maintaining optimal safety.”

Gilliam and his team pushed through regulatory hurdles, proving that a remote, network-powered RCMS could meet and exceed safety standards. The innovative solution included a callout function that alerts onshore staff to log in, assess the situation and determine if intervention was necessary — allowing the barge to remain idle and safely monitored when docked.

According to Gilliam, Crowley’s commitment to supporting innovation gave his team the space to problem-solve and advance their careers creatively.

Brendan Wright, a commercial operator at Crowley, faced the challenge of navigating a complex network of stakeholder interests and regulatory requirements. Success for Wright meant balancing the operational requirements of the operator, the regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard and the ambitions of the Crowley team.

He needed to build support across these groups to ensure the new system was acceptable under U.S. regulatory and customer standards. Change to any established system can be daunting, especially when the security of crew and cargo are at stake. However, Wright’s seamless and dynamic advocacy eventually highlighted the necessity to ensure operations’ long-term resilience and adaptability.

“In a new space like this, there’s always some initial hesitancy because it isn’t the norm,” Wright said. “It challenged the development process to shift the monitoring system to remote operation, so gaining buy-in required a lot of persistence, empathy, communication and collaboration.”

He aligned operations needs with the RCMS capabilities, ensuring each system element contributed toward a practical, safe solution. To create this alignment, Wright brought together the construction, engineering, operations and customer teams to understand better how the project would function. He acted as the glue between the different teams and ensured everyone was comfortable with and informed on the intricacies of the new technology.

Wright’s approach created a collaborative, engaged environment that built confidence in the new system.

“It’s all about expanding the pie—creating the most value for both the customer and Crowley,” he said. “When we effectively communicate, we can respond quickly to their needs and collaborate on a creative and sustainable solution.”

As the RCMS design and construction manager, Dean Sahr, director of projects, new construction and LNG engineering at Crowley Shipping, was instrumental in translating the project’s bold ideas into a functional system. For Sahr, designing a new remote-control operations system that passed regulatory and cybersecurity requirements was no easy feat.

“For every technical issue, there was a solution, but it required persistence and collaboration at every step,” Sahr said. “We didn’t just need a compliant system — we needed one that would work seamlessly and improve the lives of those on board.”

A key breakthrough moment he led was the redesign of the monitoring system’s interface. Sahr transformed the system into a portable piece of equipment, reducing its weight from 150 pounds to just 10.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) provided invaluable guidance and technical expertise throughout the design, build and testing process of the RMCS. Their partnership throughout the process helped ensure the safety of the crew, vessel and the environment.

Dahr’s worked to meet the USCG protocols, ensuring the system was safe from external interference, requiring the team to receive approval for each development phase.

“Getting the tablets approved for use on and off the barge was no small feat,” Sahr explained. “But it was worth the effort because now we have a compliant solution that can be easily integrated into future Crowley vessels.”

For Sahr, the success of the RCMS project was more than an engineering accomplishment—it was a chance to test his expertise and capitalize on Crowley’s commitment to innovation.

The RCMS project represents another step forward in marine innovation, and its successful implementation opens the door for the Crowley team to replicate this type of lean solution in future projects. For Gilliam, Wright and Sahr, working on this transformative project reinforced their commitment to pushing boundaries, exploring innovative solutions and furthering Crowley’s vision for a modernized maritime industry.

Through projects like RCMS, our teams gain more than technical experience; they build the skills and relationships that turn challenges into achievements and ideas into industry-leading solutions.

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