INSIGHT TÉTHYS NAVAL
EDITORIAL 03
29 April 2025
Téthys Naval recently sailed through two flagship events – BlueInvest Days in Brussels and Cruise Week in Rotterdam – where the spotlight wasn’t just on ships and shores, but on satellites, sensors, and smart solutions. The future of maritime security is no longer only in steel hulls but in algorithms, governance models, and ethical AI.
As BlueTech innovation accelerates, so too must our commitment to human rights and rule of law at sea. At Cruise Week, AI-driven planning was framed as a tool not only for efficiency but for enhancing safety, transparency, and accountability aboard vessels. Meanwhile, BlueInvest in Brussels revealed a fresh tide of investor interest – yes, in profits, but also in policies that uphold the shared values of maritime governance.
Our recent insights delve deeper. Is the global trade order slipping into mercantilism? Are human rights being pushed overboard in the rush for maritime dominance? And can AI really help avoid the icebergs of disinformation and fragmented law?
These five articles explore emerging threats to maritime security, the shift in trade governance, leadership trends, ethical challenges, and how AI and innovation reshape human rights and safety at sea.
Before Insight No. 4 surfaces on 15 July, join us at European Maritime Day in Cork (21–23 May) and the 14th Legal Advisor Seminar of the International Society for Military Law and Law of War in Galway (20–23 May). The conversation on security, sovereignty, and smart seas is just getting started.
Sincerely yours,
Philippe Hermes and the team of Téthys Naval
SPOTLIGHT 03
A word about Maritime Leadership Trends
Regular training as the new standard sharpening safety, building confidence, strengthening leadership, and preparing seafarers for real-life maritime challenges.
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The Unexpected Dimension of AI in Cruise Planning
Let’s analyse how AI is transforming cruise planning by supporting human expertise with predictive insights, real-time data, and scenario analysis. AI enhances operational resilience, reduces delays, and enables smarter, faster decisions without replacing planners, but empowering them to act with greater confidence.
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Another End of Maritime Free Trade
Costs rise and uncertainty deepens, long-standing trade norms are breaking down. This article explores how protectionism, disrupted supply chains, and shifting power dynamics are reshaping the seas—and what it means for global stability.
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HIGHLIGHT 03
When the FBI gets it wrong: urgent Need for Maritime Governance
This article highlight a recent FBI misstep at sea which revealed a critical gap in maritime governance: when even top agencies misapply jurisdiction, the risks multiply. Vessels face crises without clear rules, legal training, or support leading to improvised, sometimes dangerous, decisions.
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NATO’s Gender Wording: Opportunity or Backstep?
We discuss NATO’s possible shift in WPS language sparks the debate of whether it will sharpen focus on gender as strategic expertise, or dilute decades of progress? As global politics shift, the alliance must ensure clarity strengthens, not weakens. its commitment to inclusive, effective security and peace operations. Words matter. So does implementation.
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EDITORIAL 02
04 March 2025
Spring is upon us, bringing a fresh breeze of pioneering discussions and inspiring perspectives to the maritime sector. The BlueRights Conference in London has set the stage for in-depth discussions on Life, Liberty, and Health at Sea, and we are eager to progress our work within the sub-working group on Arrest and Detention.
Meanwhile, at the BlueEconomy Conference in Brussels, we highlighted the vital connection between human rights and sustainable economy with the framework of maritime industry – perhaps moving towards a future where human rights hold as much weight in shareholder decisions as ESG considerations. Our commitment to strengthening governance at sea remains steadfast.
Our Highlights take a deeper dive into maritime realities often overlooked. We explore the relationship between behavior and incidents at sea, showcase a case study on detention at sea, and present reflections on BlueBonds and their role in maritime sustainability.
In this edition’s Spotlights, we explore the need for reliable data on Life, Liberty, and Health at Sea – a fundamental step in reducing uncertainty. Our company ethos – reducing the unexpected – is founded on knowledge, expertise, and curiosity. It is therefore fitting that we also explore how desalination technologies can contribute to the advancement of human rights.
With BlueInvest Days in Brussels and Cruise Week in Rotterdam fast approaching, we are preparing to share new insights and developments. Look out for our next newsletter on 29 April 2025, where we will have more to reveal.
Until then, let’s continue steering towards a more informed and responsible maritime governance.
Best regards
Philippe Hermes and the team of Téthys Naval
SPOTLIGHT 02
A Word about Data in Protecting Human Rights at Sea
Prioritising data-driven governance strengthens accountability, enhances crisis response, and protects passengers and crew from injustice and neglect.
We explain how reliable data safeguards life, liberty, and health at sea.
The Unexpected Dimension of Desalination Prices
As climate change intensifies, freshwater scarcity grows. We review how desalination transforms seawater into drinkable water, its environmental impact, and alternative uses.
Discover why this evolving technology could be key to securing water for the future.
HIGHLIGHT 02
The Interplay between Behaviour and Incidents at Sea
Understanding behaviour-based risks helps operators improve the cruise experience through proactive education, training, and communication, preventing incidents and ensuring greater passenger satisfaction.
We explore how situational awareness enhances safety and security in maritime tourism.
Detention Governance at Sea
The lack of accountability and weak safety protocols endanger people, resulting in negligence, injustice, and serious human rights violations that demand urgent reform.
We examine a case of unlawful detention on a cruise ship, highlighting failures in governance.
EDITORIAL 01
21 January 2025
The Téthys Naval Newsletter will provide you with regular insights into our work and expertise. As specialists in our field, it is important for us to highlight our activities, efforts and skills to support you in all business decisions that are out of the ordinary. This newsletter also serves as your reminder of our expertise as an external resource.
In this first edition, we explain the Blue Security initiative, launched in 2024, and its core in contrast to maritime security. We explore the unexpected dimension of autonomous aquafarming in the context of BlueTech, and discuss the challenges the private sector encounters in navigating crime response processes under ocean governance and justice. We delve into the role of societal awareness in river operations as part of BlueEconomy and elaborate on the significance of business intelligence for BlueInvest and destination development – always with areas of application for expertise.
Three weeks into the new year, our dedication to maritime security, ocean governance, and human rights remains steadfast. We view societal issues through a comprehensive maritime lens, engaging stakeholders through our BlueSecurity initiative. We appreciate that this holistic concept of governance, economics, security and human rights is backed by solid links across a wide range of stakeholders, including the insurance market, financial institutions, logistics and shipping companies, government agencies, military forces, think tanks and academia.
As we look to the future, the implementation of resilience, capacity, and capability will be essential in addressing the impacts of climate change, evolving social and political trends, and shifting consumption patterns. We will continue supporting stakeholders in BlueInvest, BlueEconomy, and BlueTech, while promoting rule-of-law practices at sea. BlueSecurity represents Justice at Sea, where the private sector plays a key role, as maritime realities demand action. Over the past year, we’ve made significant strides in this area and look forward to driving more attention to this critical cause.
In the outlook section of our newsletter, be sure to mark your calendar for two key events: The Second Annual European Blue Economy Conference in Brussels on 4 February and the BlueRights Opening Conference in London on 24 January 2025. We will be attending both and look forward to engaging in meaningful interactions and exchanges with fellow ocean stakeholders.
Thank you for being part of this essential dialogue. We look forward to sharing our next edition on 4 March 2025 and hope that you will continue to subscribe to insights into our work and expertise.
Wishing you an enjoyable read.
Best regards.
Philippe Hermes and the team of Téthys Naval
SPOTLIGHT 01
A Word about Blue Security
BlueSecurity embodies security dimensions and impacts by combining societal, safety, environmental, justice and protection dimensions within a framework of governance and rule of law, serving a sustainable and equitable implementation for BlueInvest, BlueEconomy or BlueTech.
A brief description of this new approach, with a depicted Lotus flower.
The Unexpected Dimension of Autonomous Aquafarming
A recent industry newsletter covered an exciting story: China has introduced an autonomous offshore aqua farm in the resource-rich South China Sea.
A review of environmental protection, marine conservation, and food security of this recent discovery of innovative BlueTech.
HIGHLIGHT 01
The Ocean Governance and Justice Snag
A discussion about relying solely on governmental law enforcement at sea and the pivotal role of the private sector in addressing obstacles related to ocean governance and justice. Shared responsibility is essential for ensuring justice and upholding the rule of law aboard ships.
Societal Awareness in River Operations – need to have?
An analysis of concerns associated to inland waterways, commonly reduced to navigational or environmental nature. Cruise operators, freight forwarders and insurance companies, however, should include a further layer of operational consideration and broader strategic observation in their river activities.
The Significance of Destination Intelligence
A description of niche expertise and understanding the investment environment: Destination Intelligence has proven its value in support of investors, business developers, and cruise planners through all phases of investment – from planning through execution to crisis management.