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 and earned an MBA from Marist College. 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, May 12, 2023
SpaceX Says It Could Replace Containerships? We Say No, It Can’t
Energy

SpaceX Says It Could Replace Containerships? We Say No, It Can’t

by John Konrad (gCaptain) In the vast cosmos of technological innovation, the concept of rocket-propelled cargo transport has become a dazzling star,

May 12, 2023
Total Views: 3659

Sunday, May 7, 2023
Without Waterways Biden’s Climate Plan Will Waste Trillions
Environment

Without Waterways Biden’s Climate Plan Will Waste Trillions

by John Konrad (gCaptain OpEd) With a staggering 15,000+ miles of navigable waterways, it’s critical to note that river barges can carry over ten times

May 7, 2023
Total Views: 9043

Friday, May 5, 2023
US Navy Honors Baseball Veterans With USS Cooperstown Commissioning
Navy

US Navy Honors Baseball Veterans With USS Cooperstown Commissioning

by John Konrad (gCaptain) It is often said that baseball is the great American pastime, a sport woven into the very fabric of the nation’s soul.

May 5, 2023
Total Views: 2289

Thursday, May 4, 2023
Senator Wicker at a Shipyard
Navy

Senator Wicker Advocates For US Shipyard Act

by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Yesterday on the floor of Congress, Roger Wicker, the senior United States senator from Mississippi, addressed his fellow

May 4, 2023
Total Views: 8195

Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Gordon Lightfoot Has Crossed The Bar: A Musical Beacon for Maritime History And Merchant Mariners
News

Gordon Lightfoot Has Crossed The Bar: A Musical Beacon for Maritime History And Merchant Mariners

Gordon Lightfoot, the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter who captivated generations with his evocative storytelling and unique musical stylings, passed away

May 2, 2023
Total Views: 5472

Monday, May 1, 2023
AMCL USMC Logistics conference
Merchant Marine

US Marine Corps And US Merchant Marine Deepen Ties

by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In recent months, the US Navy’s critical lack of available amphibious ships has led to the Marine Corps being unable to

May 1, 2023
Total Views: 8400

Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Should The Navy Or Tech Giants Protect Undersea Cables?
Navy

Should The Navy Or Tech Giants Protect Undersea Cables?

In a recent Financial Times article, Helen Thomas highlights the growing concern over threats to undersea cables, which are essential for global digital

April 26, 2023
Total Views: 2811

Tuesday, April 25, 2023
ANN C. PHILLIPS MARAD
News

Ann Phillips: Uncovering The Ghost Admiral Steering The US Government’s Most Secretive Agency

by Captain John Konrad (OpEd) How can you help Cato dismantle the Jones Act and undermine American shipping? How can you subvert crucial US Navy shipbuilding

April 25, 2023
Total Views: 26985

Monday, April 24, 2023
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell
Navy

European Policy Chief Advocates For Warship Patrols Of Taiwan Strait

In a recent op-ed for Le Journal du Dimanche, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell boldly advocated for European warships to actively patrol the Taiwan Strait

April 24, 2023
Total Views: 1964

OOCL CFO Says It’s Impossible To Decouple From China
News

OOCL CFO Says It’s Impossible To Decouple From China

As geopolitical tensions rise, businesses are exploring alternatives to China for production and diversification, yet China’s vast influence in global

April 24, 2023
Total Views: 3718

Sunday, April 23, 2023
Celebrity Edge Class Cruise Ship
Cruise Ships

The Cruel Reality of Cruise Ship Morgues: Widow Files Suit

In August, Marilyn Jones and her husband Robert set sail on an eight-day Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aboard the Celebrity Equinox. Just two

April 23, 2023
Total Views: 10752

Thursday, April 20, 2023
Navy oiler tanker at night
Merchant Marine

Replenishing Controversy: The US Navy’s New Tanker Program

By John Konrad (gCaptain) A Congressional Research Study update by Ronald O’Rourke shows the US Navy has earmarked $8.8 million in research and

April 20, 2023
Total Views: 7075

Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Russian ship Admiral Vladimirsky
Navy

Does Russia Have A Fleet Of Sabotage Ships?

New allegations have emerged via the BBC suggesting that Russia has a program to sabotage wind farms and communication cables in the North Sea. The joint

April 19, 2023
Total Views: 7695

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro aboard ship
Navy

Alaska Senator Asserts Navy Secretary Violated Shipbuilding Law

Alaska's Senator Dan Sullivan Holds Navy Secretary Accountable for Alleged Shipbuilding Law

April 18, 2023
Total Views: 6230

Monday, April 17, 2023
Navigating Change: European RoRo Sector Adapts To Brexit, Crises And Decarbonization
Ports

Navigating Change: European RoRo Sector Adapts To Brexit, Crises And Decarbonization

In an era marked by Brexit, the Ukraine crisis, and the push for long-term decarbonization solutions, the European RoRo cargo vessel sector finds itself

April 17, 2023
Total Views: 1118

Sunday, April 16, 2023
War Sailor movie
Defense

War Sailor: A Masterpiece Sheds Light On PTSD And The Unsung Heroes Of The Sea

by John Konrad (gCaptain) As a US Merchant Marine captain, Merchant Marine veteran advocate, and the husband of a decorated Merchant Marine war veteran, I find

April 16, 2023
Total Views: 10354

solar panel covered canal
Environment

California Announces Solar-Powered Canal Project

California’s persistent water scarcity issues linger, even after an unusually wet winter. Governor Gavin Newsom has refrained from declaring an end to

April 16, 2023
Total Views: 10521

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Space to ship communications link
News

Can Space Agencies Boost Autonomous Shipping?

As the global community strives to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, sustainable shipping emerges as a critical

April 12, 2023
Total Views: 1086

Thursday, April 6, 2023
Service Chief Panel
Navy

Shipbuilding Battle: Deep Dive On The Fight Between 3 Commandants And 1 Admiral

by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) The brewing conflict between the US Navy and the US Marine Corps over the production of amphibious warships is reaching a

April 6, 2023
Total Views: 8367

Vice Admiral Scott D. Conn
Navy

US Navy Admiral Says AI Warships ‘Must Obey’

by John Konrad (gCaptain) This week marked significant AI-related announcements for the US Navy at the annual Sea Air Space conference. Top Admiral and CNO,

April 6, 2023
Total Views: 51302