The Carthaginian navy had been defeated by the Romans in two major encounters, but neither side was usually able to stop the other from raiding each other's coasts.

The Carthaginian navy struck the first blow of the war when a fleet of 20 quinqueremes, loaded with 1,000 soldiers, raided the Lipari Islands.

Carthage's economic successes, and its dependence on shipping to conduct most of its trade, led to the creation of a powerful Carthaginian navy.

The grain supply from Sardinia remained uninterrupted and the Carthaginian navy was denied bases nearer to Italy.

Initially the Carthaginian navy prevailed.

This small victory for the Carthaginian navy was in no way enough to break the blockade by the Roman navy.

Since the Romans were primarily a land-based army, they could not effectively combat the Carthaginian navy, and subsequently lost several sea battles.

The Carthaginian navy, unprepared for this "land combat" on the oceans, lost several ships to this tactic.

The Carthaginian navy had been raiding the coast of Italy since the start of the war in 218 BC.

While Carthage's armies were busy fighting rebels inland, the Carthaginian navy was patrolling the African coast.