John Konrad

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.


Friday, August 18, 2023
NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft fly over Hurricane Ida in 2021. Photo Credit: Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Doremus, NOAA Corps
Marine Weather

San Diego To Halt Ship Traffic Ahead Of Hurricane Hilary

by John Konrad (gCaptain) San Diego is taking necessary precautions by shutting down harbor pilot operations in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane

August 18, 2023
Total Views: 2998

Sunday, August 13, 2023
Photo of The oceanographic research vessel NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown is the largest ship in NOAA's fleet by Wes Struble of NOAA
NOAA

Repairing and Upgrading NOAA’s Great White Ships

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

August 13, 2023
Total Views: 6438

The cruise ship MSC Euribia underway approaching Copenhagen after its maiden voyage from Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France. This image belongs to MSC Cruises
Cruise Ships

Unpacking Economic Impact: Did MSC Cruise Ship Launch France’s GDP?

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

August 13, 2023
Total Views: 3813

Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Brookings Institute Warns Of US Military’s Logistics Gap Vs China
Merchant Marine

Brookings Institute Warns Of US Military’s Logistics Gap Vs China

by John Konrad (gCaptain) Last week the Brookings Institute recently published a new report titled “America can’t afford to ignore the logistics

August 1, 2023
Total Views: 4229

Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Matson Dives Into Diversity And Inclusion
News

Matson Dives Into Diversity And Inclusion

by John Konrad (gCaptain) In a significant stride towards promoting diversity and inclusion, Matson ($MATX), a leading US Flag containership operator, reported

July 25, 2023
Total Views: 1774

Monday, July 24, 2023
A digitally enhanced image of ships
Engineering News

ABS Invests In Atom Splitting Nuclear Research

by John Konrad (gCaptain) Nuclear propulsion aboard commercial maritime vessels may sound like a science fiction scenario, but this is precisely the subject of

July 24, 2023
Total Views: 2345

Saturday, July 22, 2023
Cruise Industry Asks UN To Reconsider Carbon Rule
Cruise Ships

Cruise Industry Asks UN To Reconsider Carbon Rule

Picture a cruise ship. Not just a ferryboat, but an enormous floating resort filled with roller coasters, fine dining, and Broadway-style shows. These massive

July 22, 2023
Total Views: 4287

Friday, July 21, 2023
Chinese Shipyard
Navy

Deep Dive Into China’s Move To Build Shadow Fleet Tankers

by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Irene Ang at Tradewinds is reporting that Kurow Shipping, a mysterious tanker company with ties to the Shadow Fleet of

July 21, 2023
Total Views: 7191

Thursday, July 20, 2023
Zelenskiy Grain Ship Odessa
News

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Can’t Move Ukraine Grain, Here’s Why

by John Konrad (gCaptain) As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, it has sent shockwaves through the global grain market, triggering a crisis that reverberates

July 20, 2023
Total Views: 5861

Wednesday, July 19, 2023
US Navy Backs Away From Ukraine’s Proposal To Protect Grain In NATO Waters
Navy

US Navy Backs Away From Ukraine’s Proposal To Protect Grain In NATO Waters

by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In a recent development, Russia struck Ukrainian ports on Tuesday, a day after withdrawing from a U.N.-backed deal that

July 19, 2023
Total Views: 20435

Navy Nuclear Reactor Core
Navy

AUKUS Powers Up: HII And Babcock Join Forces On Nuclear Projects

by John Konrad (gCaptain) In a move signifying deepening cooperation within the Australia – United Kingdom – United States (AUKUS) alliance, defense

July 19, 2023
Total Views: 2356

Navigating The Information Fog Engulfing American Shipyards
Navy

Navigating The Information Fog Engulfing American Shipyards

The adage “what gets measured gets managed” rings hollow for American shipyards, as the U.S. Maritime Administration and Navy fall short of

July 19, 2023
Total Views: 10195

Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Panama’s Surprising IMO Win: Unpacking The UN Agency’s Controversial Election
News

Panama’s Surprising IMO Win: Unpacking The UN Agency’s Controversial Election

By Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In a surprising twist, Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of Panama emerged victorious in the United Nations’

July 18, 2023
Total Views: 2623

Friday, July 14, 2023
Adriana migrant boat
Lifesaving Incidents

A Closer Look At the Migrant Boat Disaster Off Greece

by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) On June 13, a grim and preventable disaster unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea. A fishing trawler known as the Adriana,

July 14, 2023
Total Views: 3171

Thursday, July 13, 2023
admiral fagan senate hearing
USCG

Senators Call For Inspector General To Investigate US Coast Guard’s Handling of Sexual Assault Cases

by John Konrad (gCaptain) In today’s U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee hearing, the Coast Guard’s budget

July 13, 2023
Total Views: 3522

Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Daewoo Investor Eyes Purchase Of US Navy Shipbuilder
Navy

Daewoo Investor Eyes Purchase Of US Navy Shipbuilder

by John Konrad (gCaptain) South Korean conglomerate Hanwha, valued at $42 billion, is considering a strategic acquisition of Austal, a pivotal player in the

July 11, 2023
Total Views: 32059

Thursday, July 6, 2023
The Challenging Future Of Floating Wind Farms
Energy

The Challenging Future Of Floating Wind Farms

by John Konrad (gCaptain) Far offshore, in the limitless expanse of the ocean, where the wind conducts the rhythmic ballet of the waves and the horizon

July 6, 2023
Total Views: 3056

Thursday, June 29, 2023
pexels startup stock photos
Shipping

Could Silicon Valley’s Top Minds Be Recruited To Help Shipping?

By John Konrad (gCaptain) Shipping, a stalwart industry often found clinging to antiquated practices and methodologies, has rarely been associated with

June 29, 2023
Total Views: 1062

Wednesday, June 28, 2023
carnival cruise ship
Cruise Ships

Carnival Shares Spike Despite Pause On China

By John Konrad (gCaptain) Shares of Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines $CCL, soared by nearly 10% today on what the CEO calls

June 28, 2023
Total Views: 2635

Monday, June 26, 2023
Sal Mercogliano Youtube Thumbnail
Shipping News

Navigating Digital Seas: Sal Mercogliano Hits YouTube Milestone

By John Konrad (gCaptain) Dr. Salvatore R. Mercogliano, a maritime historian and longtime contributor to gCaptain, recently celebrated a significant milestone

June 26, 2023
Total Views: 1753