site.btaRSV 421 Sails South of Cabo Verde

On Antarctica Day, December 1, the Bulgarian navy research/survey vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) is sailing south of the Cabo Verde archipelago during its voyage, part of 32nd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna reported on Friday.

RSV 421 is tasked to provide logistical support and assistance for the implementation of research activities during the 32nd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica. The ship is expected to open the new Antarctic season in the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.

Four cadets of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy are part of RSV 421’s crew as trainees throughout its second voyage to Antarctica.

Antarctica Day has been marked internationally since 2010 to commemorate the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in Washington on December 1, 1959. Under the Treaty, Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only, and freedom of scientific investigation there and cooperation toward that end shall continue. The total number of Parties to the Treaty is now 56, including Bulgaria.

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During the 32nd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica, which started on November 8, 2023, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is publishing interviews with Antarctic researchers. The Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log again provides coverage of the voyage of the Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii to Antarctica and back and its stay there, as it did during the 31st expedition between December 27, 2022, and May 2, 2023. Back then, only BTA had a correspondent, Daily News Editor Konstantin Karagyozov, who covered the 127-day expedition with text, video and photos during the entire voyage (including across the Atlantic in both directions) and throughout the stay in Antarctica. In June 2023, BTA published in Bulgarian and in English an issue of its LIK magazine "To Antarctica and Back under the Bulgarian Flag" dedicated to the historic expedition.

Again, all of BTA's information on the Bulgarian scientific research in Antarctica and the support provided by the Bulgarian naval research vessel, as well as on the other activities at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base, will be available to all media outlets in Bulgarian and in English on BTA's website in the Bulgaria - Antarctica: BTA's Log section.

BTA has a National Press Club on board the ship and is planning to open a National Press Club at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.