BTA: Bulgarian Naval Research Ship Arrives at Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island

 Bulgaria’s naval research ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) has reached the shores of Livingston Island at the St. Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base, marking the start of the active phase of Bulgaria’s 34th Antarctic expedition, said on Facebook Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov, Retired, who is also a professor at the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy.

“Let us recognize the professionalism and courage of the ship’s Commanding Officer, Radko Muevski, and his crew, who once again proudly fly the Bulgarian naval flag in the waters of the Southern Ocean,” Mednikarov wrote.

The vessel departed from Punta Arenas, Chile, a few days earlier, carrying the first group of Bulgarian Antarctic Institute scientists and logistics staff, as well as international researchers from Romania, Montenegro, the UAE, and Ecuador. The ship also transported food, fuel, and other supplies necessary for the operation of the Antarctic base during the season.

RSV 421 left Varna on November 7 and arrived at the Argentine naval base in Mar del Plata on December 13, after a month-long Atlantic voyage. Since the reopening of the base in mid-November, the 34th scientific expedition has been collecting samples and conducting research in the South Bay area of Livingston Island with the support of the logistics team.