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
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.
As the global community strives to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, sustainable shipping emerges as a critical
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
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,
The U.S. Navy is currently testing its highly secretive Project Overmatch initiative with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group off the California coast. This
U.S. Navy Undersecretary Erik Raven spoke today at the opening ceremony of the US Navy League’s Sea Air Space conference in Maryland, emphasizing the
The Consortium of State Maritime Academies, which represents the nation’s six state maritime academies, has asked Commandant of the US Coast Guard Linda
by John Konrad (gCaptain) As concerns over the potential use of Chinese-made cranes for gathering information on U.S. military equipment continue to grow,
by John Konrad (gCaptain) China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is reportedly utilizing civilian roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) ferries, operated by
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) As tensions rise in the Arctic with Russia and China expanding their presence, Congresswoman Betty McCollum – ranking
Geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan recently shared his insights on globalization, security paradigms, and the need for North America to strengthen its supply
by John Konrad (gCaptain) Vincent Clerc, the newly appointed CEO of AP Møller-Maersk, spoke about China’s economic rebound during his visit to the
The Biden administration’s inconsistent approach to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has raised concerns and intensified skepticism among oil
The European Union has agreed on a new defense mechanism, allowing retaliation against countries employing economic blackmail or punitive trade measures, such
by John Konrad (gCaptain) gCaptain has obtained a troubling report from an American captain, who claims that a shipowner utilized an AI bot, potentially
Editorial by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In an era distinguished by the realization of monumental projects, from the sprawling LNG terminals of Louisiana to
What is the common denominator in the recent port congestion crisis and current Taiwan security crisis, global food crisis, global energy crisis, US military
This week, the United States Marine Corps Commandant made a bold and urgent call to prioritize logistics at sea in the Pacific theater. However, it’s
by John Konrad (gCaptain) According to Craig Hooper, a senior military contributor for Forbes, the US Marine Corps has been working with offshore oil and gas
Today the US Navy announced it is renaiming a warship to honor Robert Smalls, a skilled ship pilot and statesman born into slavery in South Carolina. The ship
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Shipbuilding and repair in America is in crisis. Every large ship built here costs multiples of what it would cost to build
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