Day 11: Bulgarian Flag-Raising Ceremony Onboard NAVAL RSV 421

A Bulgarian flag-raising ceremony was conducted aboard the naval research/survey ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (NAVAL RSV 421) at 0800 hrs CET on January 6. The vessel is currently anchored in the Spanish port of Cartagena – the first stopover on the ship's long voyage to Livingston Island, where it will support the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. The ceremony is conducted daily, while the ship is still.

Commanding Officer Cap. II rank Nikolay Danailov saluted the lined up crewmembers on occasion of the Christian day of Epiphany, the day of John the Baptist. A ritual throwing of the cross is expected to occur later Friday.

The ceremony coincided with another important event – Sergeant Major Stiliyan Nikolov, senior maintenance and repairs specialist, was promoted to Head Sergeant Major, by order of the Head of the Naval Military School in Varna – Admiral Boyan Mednikarov. Captain Danailov handed the new epaulettes to Sergeant Major Nikolov and wished him a successful service onboard the NAVAL RSV 421.

The Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii is on its historic first voyage to Livingston Island in the South Shetlands in support of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. The ship is expected to reach its destination in some 40 days. It sailed off from Varna on the Black Sea on December 27, 2022.

BTA's Daily News editor Konstantin Karagyozov is the only member of the media who is travelling on the ship to Livingston Island and back, and will cover the Bulgarian expedition on site throughout their stay in Antarctica. 

All media outlets can use the Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log for free.