Navigating Digital Seas: Sal Mercogliano Hits YouTube Milestone

By John Konrad (gCaptain) Dr. Salvatore R. Mercogliano, a maritime historian and longtime contributor to gCaptain, recently celebrated a significant milestone for his YouTube channel, “What’s Going On With Shipping,” as it surpassed 100,000 subscribers. This achievement is a testament to the channel’s insightful content and the dedication of its audience.

Mercogliano, known by most as just “Sal”, started his YouTube channel What’s Going on With Shipping in 2020 in the wake of the Ever Given incident in the Suez Canal, when gCaptain ask him to help handle media appearances and interview salvage masters about the grounding. He has since broadened his channel beyond just incidents to analyzing all modes of maritime transportation and logistics. His unique blend of professional expertise and engaging presentation quickly attracted a dedicated audience. From a humble beginning, the channel has grown exponentially, recently celebrating its 100,000th subscriber.

“On March 24, 2021, myself and John Konrad of gCaptain filmed the first episode of what would become What’s Going on With Shipping. We discussed Ever Given in the Suez. We had 5,810 views and a total of 139 subscribers,” said Sal in a recent interview. “That half-hour discussion has led to over 500 videos, 13.6 million views and over 100,000 subscribers.”

In his most recent video, Sal expressed his gratitude to his subscribers for their unwavering support. He acknowledged that the growth of his channel would not have been possible without the engagement and feedback from his viewers.

Sal’s background as a maritime historian and a former merchant mariner uniquely positions him to provide expert commentary on maritime issues. He is an adjunct professor with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, offering a graduate-level course in Maritime Industry Policy. He also sailed and worked ashore for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. His book, “Fourth Arm of Defense: Sealift and Maritime Logistics in the Vietnam War,” is available to read for free through the Naval History and Heritage Command.

In addition to his maritime expertise, Sal is an associate professor of history and Chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice, and Political Science at Campbell University. He was appointed Campbell’s NCAA faculty athletics representative by Campbell University President J. Bradley Creed in 2016.

Despite his academic and professional responsibilities plus a growing list of speaking engagements, Sal remains committed to his YouTube channel. His videos cover a wide range of topics, from the effects of changes at the Panama Canal on ocean shipping to the impact of labor talks on California’s ports. His channel has become a go-to resource for salty shipping industry insiders and landlubber ship enthusiasts alike.

Sal’s achievement is a testament to the power of digital platforms like YouTube in disseminating information and creating communities around niche topics. His success story serves as an inspiration to content creators who aspire to turn their passion into a thriving online platform.

As Sal’s “What’s Going On With Shipping” continues to sail full steam ahead and rapidly pick up speed, one thing is certain: his dedication to providing valuable maritime information our industry contributes to safety at sea, the growth of our industry, and the channel’ own voyage of success.

gCaptain is proud to play a small role in inspiring this achievement.

Click HERE to read gCaptain articles written by Sal.