John Konrad

John Konrad

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Founder/CEO, gCaptain; maritime safety advocate; shipping news and port operations commentary.

Starmer Won’t Deploy Warships to Protect Citizens Abroad
SocialMar 9, 2026

Starmer Won’t Deploy Warships to Protect Citizens Abroad

Serious question. Has anyone told this retired Royal Navy captain that @Keir_Starmer can’t (or won’t) deploy a single warship to defend his citizens overseas? https://t.co/ZcOiyRqtsn

By John Konrad
Reluctant Support for Extended Iran Deployment, Questioning CENTCOM Funding
SocialMar 8, 2026

Reluctant Support for Extended Iran Deployment, Questioning CENTCOM Funding

For the record, I’m not thrilled about this whole Iran thing. I was in the camp of bulldozing @CENTCOM to fund moving @Southcom back to the Panama Canal. But if we must be there a few weeks longer… maybe… just...

By John Konrad
Royal Navy's Mediterranean Failure Mocked by Royal Irony
SocialMar 8, 2026

Royal Navy's Mediterranean Failure Mocked by Royal Irony

Everyone’s shocked the Royal Navy can’t get a warship to the Mediterranean, let alone the Persian Gulf. But remember, King Charles also commands Canada’s Royal Navy. Surely he can dispatch her broken subs and battle kayaks for backup. https://t.co/Yo6gQLLxR6

By John Konrad
High‑Stakes Billionaire Competition Resurfaces Amid Hormuz Crisis
SocialMar 8, 2026

High‑Stakes Billionaire Competition Resurfaces Amid Hormuz Crisis

For those who want an overview without watching my full hour+ long video on the Strait of Hormuz Crisis https://t.co/QDALtGFKiC

By John Konrad
Britain's Strategic Retreat Hands China Global Footholds
SocialMar 8, 2026

Britain's Strategic Retreat Hands China Global Footholds

We had a good thing, Britain. A really good thing. You taught us this game. Mahan studied you. We just wrote bigger checks. The deal was simple. We spend the trillions. Fight the hard wars. We even let you sit out Vietnam. And...

By John Konrad
U.S. Sub Sinks Iranian Warship to Protect Shipping
SocialMar 7, 2026

U.S. Sub Sinks Iranian Warship to Protect Shipping

This is the question every admiral in the Pentagon was asking early this week that the media hasn’t covered. There is outrage in anti-Trump circles after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship because it looked like an unfair fight. While weak...

By John Konrad
UK Claims No US Aid, yet Relies on US Navy
SocialMar 7, 2026

UK Claims No US Aid, yet Relies on US Navy

Starmer repeatedly says Britain isn’t helping the US Navy Meanwhile his defense minister argues the UK doesn’t need to defend it’s territory because US Navy destroyers are doing it for them Why are 🇺🇸 ships protecting UK territory instead of focusing on...

By John Konrad
War‑Driven Insurance Chaos Grounds Persian Gulf Shipping
SocialMar 7, 2026

War‑Driven Insurance Chaos Grounds Persian Gulf Shipping

Why are ships suddenly stuck in the Persian Gulf? Ship insurance is already a maze. Add war and it becomes a labyrinth. In 15 minutes I’m going to attempt the impossible: explain ship insurance 101, what’s happening, why ships won’t sail, and...

By John Konrad
Europe's Shipowners Undercut Trump, World Misjudged TDS
SocialMar 6, 2026

Europe's Shipowners Undercut Trump, World Misjudged TDS

The world underestimated TDS and the willingness of European shipowners to deny people fuel and fertilizer to score a brief “win” over Trump.

By John Konrad
Naval Supremacy Decides Wars in Days, Not Years
SocialMar 6, 2026

Naval Supremacy Decides Wars in Days, Not Years

THIS But the bigger lesson here: naval wars are decided quickly. Sometimes in hours. Japan knew this. That’s why they attacked Pearl Harbor. They just missed the carriers and fuel tanks. That war was decided at Midway. Doesn’t mean the war will be short....

By John Konrad
Should the U.S. Navy Rescue IRGC Sailors?
SocialMar 6, 2026

Should the U.S. Navy Rescue IRGC Sailors?

Ship captain here. I’ve spent more time being tracked, followed, hunted, and observed by submarines than 99.999% of people on this app… and I’ve read dozens of books on how those encounters end. So should the U.S. Navy have rescued those IRGC...

By John Konrad
US Neglects Red Sea Defenses While Sending Aid Abroad
SocialMar 5, 2026

US Neglects Red Sea Defenses While Sending Aid Abroad

"failure to beef up relevant defensive measures in a facility located so close to Iran is a curious lapse in planning." Lapse in planning? The major of the veterans on X were screaming and yelling about Biden sending so many of...

By John Konrad
Media Team's Unexpectedly Strong Takes Surprise Everyone
SocialMar 5, 2026

Media Team's Unexpectedly Strong Takes Surprise Everyone

The crazy thing is… these are the GOOD takes his media team ran with. https://t.co/U8elANjDAP

By John Konrad
Anticipated Asset Pullout From Iran Before Confirmation
SocialMar 4, 2026

Anticipated Asset Pullout From Iran Before Confirmation

And, leading up to his confirmation, everyone and their mother told me @USWPColby would pull every asset we have away from Iran.

By John Konrad
Tanker Stocks Matter, Broader Economy Stays Unaffected
SocialMar 4, 2026

Tanker Stocks Matter, Broader Economy Stays Unaffected

Yes. If you own tanker stocks it is. Not so much for the rest of the economy.

By John Konrad
Europe Prioritized Red Sea, yet Deployed only Three Warships
SocialMar 3, 2026

Europe Prioritized Red Sea, yet Deployed only Three Warships

It's great that allies are helping. And both France and UK have aircraft carriers that could help. But let's not forget that Europe was a LOT more concerned with keeping the Red Sea open than Biden was... yet, collectively, not...

By John Konrad
Spain Faces Penalties for Blocking US Military Supply Ships
SocialMar 3, 2026

Spain Faces Penalties for Blocking US Military Supply Ships

Spain is already under investigation and is facing severe penalties with @FMC_gov for denying US Merchant Marine ships carrying military supplies access to their ports: https://t.co/34RLfvlbYt

By John Konrad
US Controls GPS, Prompting Rivals to Launch Independent Satellites
SocialMar 3, 2026

US Controls GPS, Prompting Rivals to Launch Independent Satellites

Umm… we own the GPS satellites. We can also just turn them off for non-military use. We did it in 2003 at the start of the Iraq war (although officially it was a “malfunction”) That’s the reason the EU, China and Russia built...

By John Konrad
China’s Djibouti Base Watches, Could Act in Red Sea
SocialMar 3, 2026

China’s Djibouti Base Watches, Could Act in Red Sea

Don’t forget: China has a naval base nearby in Djibouti. They have stood silently by for years watching the US and EU protect ships in the Red Sea without doing anything to help. But they could…

By John Konrad
Trusted X Sources for Accurate Maritime & Military News
SocialMar 3, 2026

Trusted X Sources for Accurate Maritime & Military News

X is producing the best Iran coverage on earth right now but 90% is slop and most of mainstream media is too focused on political nonsense. As a Pentagon reporter & founder of the world’s most-read maritime news site, here’s who...

By John Konrad
Live Discussion on Globalist Control of Persian Gulf Shipping
SocialMar 3, 2026

Live Discussion on Globalist Control of Persian Gulf Shipping

Watch me talk live with @BreannaMorello at 10:30 EST Will we be talking about globalist control of Persian Gulf shipping? Yes. We. Will.

By John Konrad
Strait of Hormuz: Politics Clash, Captains Hold the Final Say
SocialMar 2, 2026

Strait of Hormuz: Politics Clash, Captains Hold the Final Say

Iran says the Strait is closed. The U.S. military says it’s open. Reality: you still have to convince a captain to sail it. Ten years ago, shore-side managers could (and did) twist arms. Today? Nobody wants to become TikTok famous for twisting arms...

By John Konrad
Tanker Stocks Fall as Key Oil Waterway Shuts
SocialMar 2, 2026

Tanker Stocks Fall as Key Oil Waterway Shuts

"Sell the News" even works for tanker stocks when the most important waterway for oil is practically (if not actually) closed. https://t.co/1Blk1tLMqJ

By John Konrad
Insurance Rates Soar for Ships Entering Ukraine, Not Canceled
SocialMar 2, 2026

Insurance Rates Soar for Ships Entering Ukraine, Not Canceled

They didn’t even cancel insurance for ships targeted by Russia for entering Ukraine…. They just jacked up the rates. This is all very unusual.

By John Konrad
Red Sea Crisis Hits 834 Days, Hormuz Just Three
SocialMar 2, 2026

Red Sea Crisis Hits 834 Days, Hormuz Just Three

“Today is day 834 of the Red Sea crisis and day 3 of the Hormuz crisis,” shipping analyst Lars Jensen

By John Konrad
General’s Anger Reveals Army’s Logistical Limits, No Invasion Fleet
SocialFeb 28, 2026

General’s Anger Reveals Army’s Logistical Limits, No Invasion Fleet

Major General is just pissed off because he knows the Army is taking a back seat. You may “know more about war than Donald Trump” but you also know the Army can’t invade a nation of that size without a large...

By John Konrad
Container Scans Dropped From 100% to Under 4%
SocialFeb 28, 2026

Container Scans Dropped From 100% to Under 4%

In 2006, Congress mandated that 100% of shipping containers be scanned before entering the US. Today? Less than 4%. If you don’t think attack drones have already been smuggled into this country pre-positioned near our Naval bases, you need your head examined.

By John Konrad
Fireboats Essential when Naval Base Water Infrastructure Fails
SocialFeb 28, 2026

Fireboats Essential when Naval Base Water Infrastructure Fails

The problem with fighting fires on naval bases after an attack is the same power-plants, fuel and pumping facilities targeted also supply firefighting water. And even if the water mains survive fighting fires on multiple fronts consumes more water than any...

By John Konrad
Sometimes Staying Is the only Viable Choice
SocialFeb 27, 2026

Sometimes Staying Is the only Viable Choice

In middle school we learned about the fall of the Shah and the Iran hostage crisis. I remember the lesson vividly because the teacher was frustrated I asked so many questions. I just could not wrap my head around civilian men with...

By John Konrad
Trump’s Carbon Tax Repeal Averts Global Tanker Crisis
SocialFeb 26, 2026

Trump’s Carbon Tax Repeal Averts Global Tanker Crisis

Can’t say I didn’t warn everyone that the United Nations @IMOHQ’s war on oil tankers was going to end poorly. This would soon be happening to almost every ship globally if Trump hadn’t destroyed the UN Carbon Tax

By John Konrad
South Korea Partnership Boosts U.S. Shipbuilding Capacity
SocialFeb 25, 2026

South Korea Partnership Boosts U.S. Shipbuilding Capacity

“Working with South Korea brings industrial capacity to the US and will allow America to press fast forward on shipbuilding,” Alex Wong, Hanwha https://t.co/BIwicYBkDb

By John Konrad
US, South Korea, Greece Unveil Major Shipbuilding Partnership
SocialFeb 25, 2026

US, South Korea, Greece Unveil Major Shipbuilding Partnership

At DOT with Ambassador Guilfoyl, Alex Wong and US Merchant Marine Commandant Steve Carmel for a big shipbuilding announcement between the US, South Korea and Greece. Stay tuned to @gCaptain for details coming soon. https://t.co/TkMB2MwgEI

By John Konrad
Import Terminal Repurposed by Fracking Boom
SocialFeb 25, 2026

Import Terminal Repurposed by Fracking Boom

Fun fact: this was originally built as an IMPORT terminal. Then the fracking revolution happened and they had to reverse course. 🇺🇸

By John Konrad
Dutch and Korean Builders Achieve the Impossible
SocialFeb 24, 2026

Dutch and Korean Builders Achieve the Impossible

I visited this ship when she was being built. Truly a “How the F are they going to make this work?” moment. When they work together the Dutch and South Korean shipbuilders accomplish the impossible. And this isn’t even the most...

By John Konrad
Cabinet Secretary Dubs US Merchant Marine America’s Secret Weapon
SocialFeb 24, 2026

Cabinet Secretary Dubs US Merchant Marine America’s Secret Weapon

Did a cabinet secretary just call the US Merchant Marine America’s secret weapon? I always wanted to be a secret agent like Commander Bond… but Captain Konrad, Secret Weapon has a better ring to it 😜 Cue the deepest eye roll from...

By John Konrad
Merchant Marine Essential for Rebuilding US Industrial Base
SocialFeb 24, 2026

Merchant Marine Essential for Rebuilding US Industrial Base

“We can not rebuild our industrial base without the US Merchant Marine. They are critically important,” @PeteHegseth in a news conference yesterday.

By John Konrad
Defense Manufacturing Push Highlights Logistics and Infrastructure Gaps
SocialFeb 24, 2026

Defense Manufacturing Push Highlights Logistics and Infrastructure Gaps

According to a senior defense official I met with today, the primary focus of the Arsenal of Freedom initiative is volume and speed of manufacturing but there are secondary problems they’re working hard to solve. High on that list is...

By John Konrad
Trillion-Dollar Aid Can't Fix Crumbling Logistics Infrastructure
SocialFeb 23, 2026

Trillion-Dollar Aid Can't Fix Crumbling Logistics Infrastructure

The Arsenal of Freedom needs trucks, ships, barges, but our infrastructure is crumbling. @PeteButtigieg had a trillion dollars and failed, Army Corps is failing. @PeteHegseth didn’t just answer my question, he beat me to the punch by hours. https://t.co/L63oHDrDlQ

By John Konrad
Secretary of War: Merchant Marine Essential for Industrial Rebuild
SocialFeb 23, 2026

Secretary of War: Merchant Marine Essential for Industrial Rebuild

Here it is folks. The moment my 100k followers have been waiting for…. “We can not rebuild our industrial base without the US Merchant Marine. They are critically important,” @PeteHegseth, Secretary of War 🫡 https://t.co/HYvWum8qFA

By John Konrad