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.
Marina del Rey, California (gCaptain) In the early evening Wednesday a yacht explosion in Los Angeles County, transformed from a tranquil harbor to a chaotic
As the tides of global trade ebb and flow, a new swell is forming on the horizon—one that could disrupt supply chains and economies alike. Polymarket, a
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain OpEd) The US Navy’s top Admiral has just unveiled her new “warfighting navy” plan, and it’s a doozy.
STOCKTON, CA – The advertisement was easily overlooked—a dilapidated cruise ship for sale on Craigslist in 2008. But for Chris Willson, a tech
by John Konrad (gCaptain) Contrary to popular belief, Maersk is not the world’s largest shipping company, nor is Delta the world’s largest airline.
In an increasingly polarized political climate, Oxfam has turned its attention to a fat target in the fight against carbon emissions: the ultra-wealthy. The
In a groundbreaking naval exercise, the U.S. Navy and its allies tested the launch of one of its most powerful defensive missiles from a shipping container,
This past weekend, Russian navy aircraft repeatedly entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) while Russian and Chinese People Liberation Army
by John Konrad (gCaptain) As the world has almost fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic—the worst global health crisis since the Great Influenza of
By Samuel Shen and Ryan Woo (Reuters) Shanghai halted transportation links, recalled ships and shut tourism spots including Shanghai Disney Resort on Sunday
Billionaire Jared Isaacman and the Polaris Dawn crew made a triumphant return to Earth on Sunday, marking the end of a historic mission. The SpaceX Crew Dragon
Japan’s military is making moves that will put it in the big leagues of naval aviation. Later this year, the Izumo-class carrier Kaga will head to the waters
By Andreo Calonzo (Bloomberg) The Philippines withdrew its Coast Guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that’s recently been at the center of tensions
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) For decades, American merchant mariners have been in a state of stagnation. Despite their crucial role in U.S. shipping and
Picture this: a vast container ship, plowing through the open sea, its steel hull reflecting the soft shimmer of moonlight. It’s carrying cargo, bound
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) On a crisp morning that should have promised smooth sailing, Captain Mike Vinik found himself staring at a maze of
By Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) One of the most rewarding—and often the most frustrating—types of volunteer work I do is mentoring young startup
Navy sailors often face restricted internet access during deployments for security reasons. However, senior enlisted leaders on the littoral combat ship
Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) Could future naval battles be waged using Morse code flashed between ships? One admiral believes so. At the 3rd Indo-Pacific
In a move that could ripple through global naval strategies, Y Combinator—the California-based tech incubator behind Airbnb, Dropbox and Flexport—is now
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