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.


Sunday, July 1, 2007
gCaptain

gCaptain Starbucks Contest Winner Announced

On June 9th we announced the first ever gCaptain reader contest! To recap: The first 10 people to sign up for the three main sections of our site will

July 1, 2007
Total Views: 53

Pasha Bulker Swung Out but Leaking Oil
Incidents

Pasha Bulker Swung Out but Leaking Oil

The Sydney Morning Herald brings us this update: THE Pasha Bulker has budged but is still stuck fast on the reef at Nobbys Beach, Newcastle. Damage to the

July 1, 2007
Total Views: 81

Saturday, June 30, 2007
Incidents

What Are You Sinking About?

Here’s a great video (just play it on mute) of maritime disaster footage from around the world.

June 30, 2007
Total Views: 188

Friday, June 29, 2007
toy duck map
Interesting

Message in a bottle – $100 reward for toy ducks lost at sea

The Daily Mail of the UK brings us this story: “Thousands of rubber ducks to land on British shores after 15 year journey”. Apparently in 1992 a

June 29, 2007
Total Views: 1523

Lifesaving Incidents

Pasha Bulker – Questions and Answers

We have been receiving a lot of comments and interaction regarding our coverage of the Pasha Bulker story. There are many stories to cover on the seven seas

June 29, 2007
Total Views: 641

Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Video

Download YouTube Videos

The top 10 best maritime videos of ships, coast guard rescues at sea, funny commercials and maritime

June 27, 2007
Total Views: 328

Monday, June 25, 2007
abstract
gCaptain

Announcing Maritime Forum – Guest Posts

Today I’ve launched a new feature on our Maritime Forum – Guest Posting. While we still encourage you to Sign-up to use our site we realize this

June 25, 2007
Total Views: 39

Saturday, June 23, 2007
ship daya
Lifesaving Incidents

Ship Aground off Indian Coast

A ship reportedly heading to Dubai has run aground on a beach in Mangalore India. Three people are confirmed dead the others have been rescued after jumping

June 23, 2007
Total Views: 393

zoo weekly pasha bulker
Lifesaving Incidents

Pasha Bulker – Photo Slideshow

Here is a random selection of the best (and worst) photos of the coal ship “Pasha Bulker” grounded on Nobby’s Beach courtesy of Flickr. For

June 23, 2007
Total Views: 842

Friday, June 22, 2007
Lifesaving Incidents

Maritime Experts Consider Dismantling Pasha Bulker For Scrap

In an interesting turn of events the salvage team working to remove the Coal Ship that ran aground on a popular Australian beach believe Pasha Bulker is

June 22, 2007
Total Views: 85

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Uncategorized

Response to LNG Crewing Agreement Post

I have received a few emails regarding Sunday’s story about a DHS agreement to crew one quarter of LNG ships with American mariners. In a post titled

June 19, 2007
Total Views: 62

drilling rig anchors
Uncategorized

Discover Maritime News

Here are the top stories from our Maritime News Discoverer. Prison term for tanker chief engineer QE2 To Become A Floating Dubai Hotel APL tests way to cut

June 19, 2007
Total Views: 39

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Uncategorized

1/4 of LNG Crews must be U.S. Mariners

Breaking news from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. During the graduation speech yesterday a MARAD administrator announced a deal was made with two terminal

June 17, 2007
Total Views: 20

Friday, June 15, 2007
Maritime Experts Delay Salvage of Grounded Vessel
Incidents

Maritime Experts Delay Salvage of Grounded Vessel

The latest word from Newcastle, Australia is to wait before re-floating the grounded coal ship “Pasha Bulker”. The West gives us information

June 15, 2007
Total Views: 248

Thursday, June 14, 2007
hospital ship
Interesting

Hospital Ship Comfort Departs to South America

In some of the most positive military news of recent memory we get word of preparations being made aboard the USNS Comfort for tomorrow’s departure on a

June 14, 2007
Total Views: 116

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
new bay bridge construction
Uncategorized

Inside the New San Francisco Bay Bridge

Telstar Logistics brings us the scoop on the construction of the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco. They write: We live in a time of many wonders and miracles,

June 12, 2007
Total Views: 62

Monday, June 11, 2007
Environmental Catastrophe Possible Averted as M/V Pasha Bulker Salvage Operation Continues
Lifesaving Incidents

Environmental Catastrophe Possible Averted as M/V Pasha Bulker Salvage Operation Continues

After pouring over the media reports and available facts I’ve decided the story can best be said by our resident maritime experts, gCaptian’s r.

June 11, 2007
Total Views: 368

Sunday, June 10, 2007
Ship Fires

Philippine Ferry Incident – 255 People Caught in Ship Fire

Details are still emerging on a wood hulled ferry that caught fire shortly after departing Manila, Philippines. So far five people are confirmed dead and many

June 10, 2007
Total Views: 143

Lifesaving Incidents

Video – Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue of Pasha Bulker

Here is some good quality video of the brave Coast Guard helicopter rescue of the Pasha Bulker’s crew. For a photo slideshow of the incident go HERE and

June 10, 2007
Total Views: 203

Friday, June 8, 2007
USCG

MarEx Newsletter Responds to Email Flood from USCG Editorial

Our favorite maritime newsletter The Maritime Executive today responded to an article in their May 31st Newsletter that “drove more traffic than any

June 8, 2007
Total Views: 34