“You gotta challenge all assumptions. If you don’t, what is doctrine on day one becomes dogma forever after.” Colonel John Boyd, USAF By Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Last week the Secretary of the U.S. Navy released a 41 page inquiry report on the “Deaths of Seven Sailors Aboard The USS Fitzgerald” alongside comments from the Navy leadership which fail to discuss the cause … [Read more...]
UPDATED: U.S. Destroyer Collides With Tanker
--- UPDATE: The USS John McCain (DDG-56) collided with the Liberian-flagged tanker Alnic MC around 5:24 a.m. on Monday local time. Five American sailors are injured and ten are missing. The he US Naval Institute reports that the crew is fighting flooding in several spaces on the ship. The ship has limited propulsion and electrical power but good … [Read more...]
How Are Nautical T-Shirts Relevant To Maritime News? The Inside Story Behind Shop gCaptain
Note: We are excited about the launch of our new shop and I'm passionate to tell you why I believe it's both fun and critically important to our industry. Our team has been working overtime this weekend bringing you both the news and helping our shop team iron out first day bugs as well as iron our nautical t shirts. Due to this passion to share, and in the hopes of giving our … [Read more...]
WATCH Lessons In Leadership From A Ship Cook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dT9-fThvkI "You keep standing, no matter what, no matter how heavy the seas, no matter how deep the water. You keep standing." Watch Dr. Rick Rigsby - an award-winning journalist, author and son of a ship's cook - share the wisdom he learned from the wisest sailor he ever met with the 2017 graduates of … [Read more...]
Why The USS Fitzgerald Is At Fault, Part 2 – Questions And Answers
The recent editorial "The USS Fitzgerald Is At Fault. This Is Why." has been read 103,667 times, shared by 9,699 people via social media and ignited a firestorm of over 500 facebook comments, forum posts, emails and phone calls to gCaptain HQ. Feedback I have received from Navy brass, journalists, pilots and Merchant Mariners working aboard commercial ships has been positive. … [Read more...]
The USS Fitzgerald Is At Fault. This Is Why.
Editor's note: According to google this article has been read by 133,570 people and has received over 500 comments, questions and replies on Facebook and the gCaptain Forum. Here is Captain Konrad's response: Why The USS Fitzgerald Is At Fault, Part 2 – Questions And Answers By Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Every ship, regardless of nationality or … [Read more...]
USCG Tests Using Diesel Outboards On Fast Rescue Boats
Gasoline is the dominant fuel source for Fast Rescue Boats aboard merchant ships but it is difficult to obtain, dangerous to store and has a limited shelf life aboard ship. Diesel fuel has none of those problems. Can it be a suitable replacement? The United States Coast Guard has been researching this topic. Here is their report: by Loretta … [Read more...]