site.btaDay 39: Flotilla Admiral Mednikarov, Ambassador Mihaylov, Rear Admiral Tarapow from Argentina to Welcome RSV 421 in Mar del Plata

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (NAVAL RSV 421) will arrive in Mar del Plata on Friday afternoon (Argentina's time zone relative to Coordinated Universal Time is -3 hours). The Argentinian port is the ship's second stopover on her historic first voyage to Livingston Island in support of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition.

The official visit in Mar del Plata is at the invitation of the Argentine Navy. Upon arrival, the ship will be welcomed by Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov, Rector of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna (on the Black Sea), Bulgarian Ambassador to Argentina Stoyan Mihaylov, and Rear Admiral Marcelo Tarapow, Director General of Education and Preparation of the Argentine Navy and participant in 12 polar expeditions to Antarctica.

It was at Rear Admiral Tarapow's invitation, through the support of the Bulgarian Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov, that RSV 421's Commanding Officer and Executive Office - Commander Nikolay Danailov and Lieutenant Commander Radko Muevski, respectively - attended polar navigation courses as part of their preparation for RSV 421's journey to Antarctica.

Days ago, Commander Danailov told BTA that Argentina is a country that has always helped Bulgaria in the field of polar research, and the forthcoming visit will further help strengthen the bilateral diplomatic contacts and foreign political ties.

In Mar del Plata the ship will welcome on board four scientists from the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute and logisticians, as a major construction activity is about to take place at the St. Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island - a new scientific laboratory is to be built. RSV 421 carries the provisions, building materials and equipment for the base. The ship will support the Bulgarian polar mission by transporting to the island food supplies, cement, building foundations, sandwich panels, a water treatment plant, an office container, etc.

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

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