Ocean · Technology · Conservation · Investment
A bi-weekly dispatch from the frontlines of ocean tech and conservation — the stories, science, and strategy that deserve your attention.
Join the currentThe ocean covers 70% of our planet. Most people don't know what's happening out there — the technology being built, the science being discovered, the funding that's moving, the missions gaining momentum. This newsletter closes that gap.
Every issue is built from primary research — not recycled headlines. It's the brief you'd want before walking into any room where ocean tech or conservation is being discussed seriously.
What's moving — three stories that matter this cycle, with context and consequence
Deep in the blue — one story explored with depth, not just headlines
The current's lens — Vann's take on a trend shaping the ocean economy
From the founder — transparent updates on what Second Current is building
Stay with the current.
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Join ocean founders, conservationists, and enthusiasts who want to stay genuinely informed about what's happening in the ocean economy — without the noise.
Subscribe here — it's freeNo spam. No noise. Just what matters in the ocean economy.
From a $392M Navy contract for autonomous vessels to 24 new species discovered in the deep sea, the ocean economy is moving fast on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Saronic raises $392M for autonomous Navy vessels — the single largest defense-tech round in ocean autonomy history
24 new species discovered in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone as scientists race to map the deep before mining begins
High Seas Treaty enters force — the first international framework protecting international waters in human history
NOAA & VentureWell launch Spring 2026 ocean tech accelerator cohort — applications now open
The next issue is in progress. Subscribe above to get it in your inbox the moment it drops.
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A Note from Vann
A personal opener — what's on my mind, what I'm watching, what's keeping me up at night.
What's Moving
Three stories from the ocean economy. Not just headlines — context, consequence, and what it means for the mission.
Deep in the Blue
One story explored with depth. The kind of analysis that takes more than a headline.
The Current's Lens
A trend I'm watching. My perspective on where the ocean economy is heading and why.
From the Founder
Honest updates on what Second Current is building — in public, in real time.
The Current's Take
A punchy closing opinion. A question to sit with.
Most newsletters on climate and ocean issues are either too academic or too shallow. The Second Current is neither. It's built for the person who cares deeply but doesn't have time to read everything — and wants to think more clearly about what they do read.
Every issue is written by Vann Kemp directly. No AI summaries, no aggregated feeds, no filler. Just the work of staying genuinely informed about a sector that moves fast and matters enormously.
The goal isn't to overwhelm you with information. It's to leave you better equipped — to have better conversations, make better decisions, and stay connected to what's actually happening out there.
Cadence
Bi-weekly — every other week, in your inbox.
"The ocean is the most important and least-understood system on this planet. That gap is what I'm here to close — one issue at a time."
— Vann Kemp, Founder
Between issues, the conversation continues on LinkedIn. Ocean tech news, quick takes, and what Second Current is building in real time — follow the company page to stay in the current.
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