2026
In the North
Atlantic:
We have developed a unique WWWW (WHALE WATCHING WELLNESS WEB loyalty program). Whale watching at sea creates a unique opportunity to experience both detachment from comfort zone on land (healthy stress) as well as to hear, see and even touch whales. Both events are highly positive for boosting metabolism and - for vitalization of health. In combination with land-based retreat, whale watching would create a unique wellness opportunity with a great multiplication effect for anti-aging, productivity and even for implementation of whales-friendly naval technologies. Oceans produce 70% of oxygen on our Planet. It is a true ESG mission to support WWWW.
Article 6 of the fundamental Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats of 1979 prohibits “all forms of deliberate capture and deliberate killing” of, inter alia, pilot whales (Globicephala) as “strictly protected fauna specie”.
Open letter was sent to the Government of the Faroe Islands with a call to abandon whaling of pilot whales.
The world is at a breaking point. Climate change, environmental destruction, and the negligence of those in power are pushing us toward an irreversible disaster. If we don’t act now, it will be too late—not just for us, but for our children and the generations to come.
One of the greatest victims of this crisis is our oceans—and with them, the whales, the guardians of our marine ecosystem. Unfortunately, many people don’t even realize that whales are not fish; they are highly intelligent marine mammals essential to the health of our planet. They store carbon, regulate the marine food chain, and contribute to the oxygen we breathe. Yet, human actions are driving them toward extinction. If we lose them, we lose an essential part of our natural world, and the consequences will be devastating.
In an exclusive interview on CrossRoads with Elizabeth Friedrich, International Lawyer & Ship Security Officer Nicolaos Khovrin Komnenos, Founder and Director of the Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution Stichting (BNLI), reveals the shocking reality behind what’s happening at sea. BNLI is fighting to save lives and protect our oceans, but without urgent action, the consequences will be catastrophic.
This information is not in the news—don’t miss this eye-opening discussion! Join us, learn the truth, and become part of the mission to protect our planet, our oceans, and our future.
We will bring perpetrators to justice no matter of their caliber. State actors will stand before the Maritime Tribunal of Public Opinion along privateers.
The emergency appeal is issued in protest of ongoing Whale Slaughter in the the Faroe Islands. Up to 1,000 of these mammals per annual season are driven into a bay by boats, metals hooks are inserted into their blowholes, and ropes are used to drag them alive to near the shore, where their spinal cords are slashed with a spear knife. You can help stop this slaughter. Support a dispatch of NMC PROTECTOR, all weather search and rescue charity vessel, to the Faroe Islands to directly monitor and report internationally wrong whale slaughter in the Faroe Islands
About 66% of the land in the Netherlands or about 33481 km2 is used for agricultural purposes. With 451 km of the Dutch coastline the density index is about 74. In other words on every 1 km of coastline there are about 74 km2 of agricultural land. In France the density index is about 51. With a relatively high agricultural use of the landmass and related nitrogen pollution the Dutch Government amended the Nature Conservation Act of 2015 and introduced Stikstofplan or Nitrogen plan. Stikstofplan raised alarm among farmers and housing developers who claim that the whole of the Netherlands may be completely on lock-down due to the extremely strict nitrogen standards. Time is ripe for the active members of the civil society like BNLI Stichting to leave politics aside, raise awareness of the problem while demonstrating that measurable solutions exist. BNLI Blue Carbon campaign already created global awareness about the importance of the coastal areas for storing CO2. Now we are proud to launch BNLI Blue Carbon NL campaign to set world example of squaring sometimes diverse interests of farmers and politicians with a mutual goal to protect the ocean against pollution. Please donate.
Local volunteers are desperate to save one of the whale hit by fatal embolism
At least eleven whales were killed in Cyprus in early February 2023.
Seven meters long female whale (on the picture) wound up beaching along with her calf whale. She sacrificed her life in desperate attempt to save her baby. Genocide of whales, a crime against humanity was committed in Cyprus. Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution Stichting (BNLI) started investigation on who killed the whales. The chairman of BNLI Stichting, international lawyer, Nicolaos Khovrin Komnenos, interviewed David, the crime scene eye witness, senior dive instructor from Cyprus. Watch the videos here and on our YouTube channel. Stay tuned. Help us. Together we will find who killed the whales.
Our mission is to save sea and lives at sea
Recycling CO2 is not new for the Planet Earth. Volcano eruptions and underground coal fires were emitting huge amount of carbon dioxide for thousands, if not millions, of years. Marine ecosystems always played a key roll in sequestrating CO2. And always, whales and phytoplankton were in the center. Scientists agree that up to 50% of carbon dioxide is captured by marine ecosystem with cetacean playing a crucial part. The marine ecosystem is in real danger. Industrial whaling undoubtedly reduced the population of whales dramatically from about 6 to about 1 million. Whales and phytoplankton are in an urgent need to be protected and not only from noise pollution. Underwater sonars claiming lives of many and many whales on a daily basis. So BNLI is proud to launch GLOBAL WHALES CARBON CAMPAIGN. Our aim is to reestablish the world population of whales to about 6 mln. as it used to be in the past. Support BNLI and our Global Whales Carbon Campaign now.
In order to protect and save whales we need to raise substantial funds. BNLI Stichting is dedicated to organize expedition vessel to the Finike Seamounts whales habitat in the Eastern Mediterranean which was severely effected by the whale genocide of the early February 2023. We will make sure that no more whales are killed there. Donors are invited to participate in the regular charity auctions. Dutch donors in particular would benefit from our ANBI status. Please visit our dedicated page about the current auction and lots details.
Please visit BNLI Stichting blog & news page and leave your comments and thoughts.
Antarctica is a flag ship campaign of Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution Stichting. It aims to establish a permanent presence of a non-governmental and a non-profit organization in the Antarctica region in order to offer search and rescue service and to monitor the environment without any political bias.
Procuring long-range all weather rescue vessels is a top priority for the Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution Stichting. On about January 28, 2022 the Memorandum of Agreement was signed between BNLI Stichting and an Italian marine company BONIFACIO S.R.L. Thanks to Mr. Fabrizio Pardi, the director of BONIFACIO S.R.L., an agreement was reached to conclude the purchase contract for the purpose-built rescue vessel “ASSO”.
Help BNLI Stichting to mobilize SAR vessel "ASSO".
Renewable hydrogen technology is still very expensive to meet stringent O&M cost requirements of the shipping industry. Non-profit organizations should play a significant role to speed up the transfer of this technology into the marine industry. Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution is developing an alternative design ferry and LH2 transporter both powered by green hydrogen.
BNLI is proud to announce a successful rescue of 593 GT ex-fishing vessel from more than a year of arbitrary detention by a state actor from Asia. It was probably one of the longest successfully resolved detention in the world in recent years. The affords were coordinated by BNLI founder and director, international lawyer and ship security officer, Nicolaos Khovrin Komnenos.
Retired Naval Engineer, Captain of the 1st rank Konstantin Vasilyev decided to donate his pension to the cause of saving life at sea.
To read more about Captain Vasilyev please use the link below.
Marine ecosystems are being negligently destroyed all around the globe by dredging ports and marinas, deep sea cabling and drilling. Their destruction combined with marine pollution caused the acidification of the sea and a terrible loss of biodiversity. Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution is launching a world-wide campaign called “Blue Carbon” to monitor the condition of the seabed, the level of blue carbon and to alert the general public and policy makers.
Nicaea-class or in short Nica-class rescue vessels to be built by
Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution Stichting.
Any individual can join Sole Survivor Score, a worldwide competition, organized by Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution. Contact us to send youtube video link with your achievements, big or small, and our sponsors will reward the most distinguished competitors. As example please see below a video of the founder of BNLI cold water swimming. The sea water temperature is 13-14 degrees Celsius with an average expected survival time of one hour. The wind is Force 6 or 27 knots.
One of BNLI Stichting main mission is to advance education to the public in matters relating to safety at sea. So we launch BNLifeguard campaign. Obtaining qualification of a lifeguard via BNLifeguard program is an important step to be able to evaluate the condition of survivors in the water and provide immediate assistance to ensure their successful recovery. Our team of coaches has both multi-years experience in professional maritime rescue service as well as a deep knowledge of the best international practices and standards. BNLI will combine training with practical experience both ashore and off-shore offering cadets opportunity to be on a whale watching and protection missions as a part of BNLI Global Whales Carbon Campaign. Learn more here.
Training of the lifeboat crew members up to STCW (The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafares) is a top priority for Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution.
Building a fleet of lifeboats is essential for a long-term success of the rescue missions. Donors have a chance to attend the official naming ceremony and blessing of the new lifeboat.
Procuring long-range all weather rescue vessels is a top priority for the Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution.
The promotion of Byzantine history and maritime culture is an important cultural mission of the Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution. The Siege of Nicaea took place from May 14 to June 19, 1097 and was an important historical victory for the Byzantine navy. Our campaign aims at reenactment of the siege.
If the thrill of a shout and being part of a close-knit crew of a lifeboat appeal to you, and you have the spare time required to make a commitment, then contact us. If you'd like to make a donation to Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution, you can use PayPal to make it fast and easy. Either way, you are welcomed to support mobilization and operation of the rescue vessels to save lives at sea. To get started, just click on the button...
Byzantine National Ship Reporting System or BNSREP provides up-to-date information on the movements of vessels in order, in the event of a distress incident, to reduce the interval between the loss of contact with a vessel and the initiation of search and rescue operations in cases where no distress signal has been received.
Dorylaeum-class or in short Dory-class lifeboats are to be built by Byzantine National Lifeboat Institution.
BNLI' long-range rescue vessels are dedicated to save life on the high seas.
International Lawyer
Ship Security Officer
Ship Security Officer
Electronic Technician Programmer Analyst
Criminologist
Ship Inspector
Entrepreneur
Would you like to help us? We look forward to your donation.
Donation account:
bunq B.V. IBAN: NL04 BUNQ 2067 6722 66 BIC: BUNQNL2A
