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.


Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Most Spine-Chilling Tsunami Video Ever Shot
Blog

The Most Spine-Chilling Tsunami Video Ever Shot

There have been no shortage of video coming from Tsunami ravaged Japan and just a few days ago gCaptain highlighted the five worst. But gCaptain and the news

March 29, 2011
Total Views: 122

President-obama-in-brazil
Offshore

Obama Rejects Claims That He’s Not Committed To Domestic O&G Production

President Obama posted to his blog yesterday in response to political rumors that an agreement on energy issues signed during the President’s trip to

March 29, 2011
Total Views: 45

Manslaughter Charges Being Considered Against BP Managers
Oil Spill

Manslaughter Charges Being Considered Against BP Managers

Sources tell Bloomberg News that federal prosecutors may pursue “Seaman’s Manslaughter” charges against BP managers for their role in last

March 29, 2011
Total Views: 43

Saturday, March 26, 2011
Death Rate per watts used - nuclear, coal and oil
Blog

Deadliest Natural Resource – Oil, Coal or Nuclear?

Most are aware of the ecological problems with the “Big 3” sources of global energy. Coal is by far the most polluting and nuclear is clean but

March 26, 2011
Total Views: 301

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Staxxon Folding Container
Blog

Staxxon – The Amazing Folding Container

gCaptain has showcased a wide array of BIG ideas aimed at reducing the environmental impact of shipping. From giant kites flown off the bow of ships to

March 23, 2011
Total Views: 1592

Tuesday, March 22, 2011
US NAVY Relief Efforts In Japan – Operation Tomodachi Update 21-22 March
Defense

US NAVY Relief Efforts In Japan – Operation Tomodachi Update 21-22 March

Inori Flag By Dennis Boo Phillips A total of 12,750 personnel, 20 ships, and 140 aircraft of U.S. 7th Fleet are continuing to participate in Operation

March 22, 2011
Total Views: 227

Oil and guns
Offshore

World Turmoil And The Energy Crisis

The economist brings us and interesting article on the turmoil in the Middle East as it relates to oil discovery and consumption. They write: TWO factors

March 22, 2011
Total Views: 60

USCG Oil Spill Cleanup Boom
Blog

Deepwater Horizon – FOIA Documents

The Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) gives US citizens the right to request non-classified documents form government entities that would otherwise not be

March 22, 2011
Total Views: 93

Monday, March 21, 2011
Japan Tsunami - Ship On Seawall
Blog

Japan Tsunami Photos – Top 10 Photos Of Maritime Disaster & Recovery

It’s said that a photo speaks a thousand words, which is why we bring you the top maritime tsunami photos from the earthquake that struck Japan. A man

March 21, 2011
Total Views: 985

Sunday, March 20, 2011
solid rocket booster recovery at sea
Blog

Solid Rocket Booster Recovery At Sea – HD Video

This is the first ever up-close, high-definition video of Kennedy Space Center’s solid rocket booster (SRB) recovery ships retrieving SRB segments from

March 20, 2011
Total Views: 218

Thursday, March 17, 2011
Blog

Ship Tracking Of Pacific Ocean Fallout – Japan Nuclear Crisis

gCaptain has spent the last few days working with a few government agencies (AMVER, NOAA, NASA) to determine the extent of the fallout over the pacific. As of

March 17, 2011
Total Views: 47

Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Defense

GPS Jamming From FCC-Approved Broadcaster

Representatives of the GPS industry presented to members of the Federal Communications Commission clear, strong laboratory evidence of interference with the

March 16, 2011
Total Views: 71

Sunday, March 13, 2011
Japan Tsunami Graphics – NOAA Provides Ocean Models
Blog

Japan Tsunami Graphics – NOAA Provides Ocean Models

  The Above graphic shows the propagation of the recent Tsunami as it moved across the pacific. Click HERE for more tsunami graphics and video from

March 13, 2011
Total Views: 974

Low Carbon Shipping Consortium, 20 May 2011

Identifying and unlocking the barriers to a greener supply chain. Tickets £95 The Carbon War Room Shipping Operation, in partnership with

March 13, 2011
Total Views: 60

Friday, March 11, 2011
gCaptain @ #SXSW (South By Southwest) – Austin
Blog

gCaptain @ #SXSW (South By Southwest) – Austin

gCaptain and Unofficial Networks are in Austin, Texas for one of the biggest tech events of the year, South by Southwest. Most people know of SXSW as a film

March 11, 2011
Total Views: 70

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Globalstar Sat Phones
Blog

A Satellite Phone Cheaper Than AT&T or Verizon?

Can you get a satellite phone cheaper than AT&T or Verizon? No but at $20 per month Globalstar is offering an unlimited airtime call plan for new

March 9, 2011
Total Views: 1150

Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The New Yorker Magazine Looks At The Oil Spill Clean-up
Blog

The New Yorker Magazine Looks At The Oil Spill Clean-up

In a recent article by The New Yorker titled “Science vs. Politics In The BP-Spill Clean-Up“, journalist Raffi Khatchadourian asks “Were

March 8, 2011
Total Views: 54

Robotic Icebergs Take Awe-Inspiring Arctic Images
Blog

Robotic Icebergs Take Awe-Inspiring Arctic Images

What happens when you build a robotic iceberg, put it on an alaska fishing vessel and set a course for true north? Awesome video! Gizmodo tells us: Did anyone

March 8, 2011
Total Views: 29

Saturday, March 5, 2011
SafeLink R10 SRS – Kannad Marine Launches Personal AIS-Based EPIRB
Uncategorized

SafeLink R10 SRS – Kannad Marine Launches Personal AIS-Based EPIRB

Kannad Marine will launch the SafeLink R10 SRS (Survivor Recovery System) at the Miami International Boat Show in conjunction with new US Distributor, Survitec

March 5, 2011
Total Views: 249

Monday, February 28, 2011
NYTimes Asks “Are we nearing another enough-is-enough moment with pirates?”
Blog

NYTimes Asks “Are we nearing another enough-is-enough moment with pirates?”

The New York Times today asked the question: “Are we nearing another enough-is-enough moment with pirates?”. In an editorial answer they wrote: On

February 28, 2011
Total Views: 78