Hi again EYG, good to see you back.

It's odd how the naval AI control will either be effective at making trading routes but fail to blockade thouroughly (Almos) or else be effective at maintaining the threat of blockade whilst failing to make functioning trade routes (Sicilians)...
I've noticed that too. Then there's also the case where the enemy AI faction has a HUGE fleet, controlling all sea regions except the two or three where you have your own ships, and it decides the best way to deal with the naval war is to send its ships into your regions one by one to be picked off piecemeal by your vastly underwhelming fleet. Never can see the reasoning behind that, but have been thankful for it on occasion