Captain John Konrad is the founder and CEO of gCaptain, one of the world’s most-read maritime news websites, and a member of the Pentagon Press Corps. He holds a USCG Master Unlimited license. John studied naval architecture at the U.S. Naval Academy before graduating from SUNY Maritime College with a degree in Marine Transportation. He is also a Y Combinator Startup School alumnus. His decade at sea included service aboard Military Sealift Command-operated ships, crude-oil supertankers running to Valdez, and dynamically positioned drillships supporting deepwater projects. In industry leadership roles, he participated in major offshore exploration and drilling campaigns, including the KG-D6 discovery with Reliance Industries and world record-setting deepwater work with Chevron. On April 20, 2010, John had finished overseeing the $750 million Deep Ocean Ascension newbuild project for BP when the Deepwater Horizon exploded. His seven years at Transocean and personal ties to members of the Horizon crew drove him to investigate the disaster, resulting in Fire on the Horizon (HarperCollins, 2011). In 2025, he co-authored Returning from Ebb Tide: Renewing the United States Commercial Maritime Enterprise for Marine Corps University Press. John has contributed to publications including Forbes, CIMSEC, Lloyd’s List, and the U.S. Coast Guard Compass, and has appeared on outlets including NPR and the BBC. He has also consulted for major newsrooms and public institutions on maritime reporting and offshore industry topics. His reporting draws on primary documents, official maritime records, and on-the-record sources cultivated over two decades in the industry. He is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute and a member of the Council of American Master Mariners and the Navy League of the United States. His work has been recognized with the U.S. Navy Combined Maritime Forces Naval Support Award and SUNY Maritime’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award.
by John Konrad (gCaptain) South African bunker traders are facing a unique challenge as an influx of ships, diverted from the Red Sea due to threats from
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) There is still a lot of speculation but progress seems likely on reopening the Red Sea to shipping. The Drive is reporting
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain Editorial) Amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea, marked by attacks on Israeli and European-owned vessels, and ongoing war
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) A pivotal debate is unfolding, one that carries the potential to redefine the trajectory of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Central
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In the current American labor landscape, the stark contrast between the assertive strides of transportation unions and the
by John Konrad (gCaptain) When merchant and cruise ships rescue migrants at sea, they offer more than just a lifeline from the perilous waters; they provide
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In an era where the South China Sea is a hotbed of geopolitical tensions and China is militarizing it’s Merchant
by John Konrad (gCaptain) The U.S. Navy is facing a lawsuit over allegations of a senior engineering officer’s rape by the captain of the USNS Carson
Yesterday in Oakland, Pro-Palestinian protesters advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza illegally entered port facilities in an attempt to halt the U.S. military
by John Konrad (gCaptain) Amidst the intense conflict with Hamas, Israel’s Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline -linking oil tanker ports on the Gulf Of Aqaba to
by John Konrad (gCaptain) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced today that the U.S. Navy is dispatching the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In a world where the Pacific is becoming a cauldron of geopolitical tensions and Russia’s actions in Ukraine highlight the
by John Konrad (gCaptain) It’s long been evident that social media users readily exchange their data for free information and services. But what if China
by John Konrad (gCaptain) A source close to the investigation has informed gCaptain that Edgar Sison will relinquish his engineering officer license following
by John Konrad (gCaptain) On August 17, China shipbuilders marked another milestone in maritime technological advancements with the launch of the “Eco
Despite Western sanctions aimed at hindering Russian exporters, recent data reveals a significant surge in Russia’s seaborne dry cargo exports. Figures from
by John Konrad (gCaptain) San Diego is taking necessary precautions by shutting down harbor pilot operations in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane
by John Konrad (gCaptain) In the realm of seafaring, mariners maintain a keen eye on two things: weather and the maps that guide them safely through unknown
In the realm of economics, where numbers often paint a more eloquent picture than words, we sometimes find ourselves bamboozled by the outliers. Let’s
by John Konrad (gCaptain) Last week the Brookings Institute recently published a new report titled “America can’t afford to ignore the logistics
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