site.btaRSV 421 Crew Celebrates March 3 Off Brazil Coast 

The crew of the Bulgarian research vessel Sv.Sv Kiril i Metodii celebrated March 3 in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Brazil, the Naval Academy said. 

The ceremony took place on the deck of the ship at 10:00 local time. Observing a minute of silence the crew honoured all the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of Bulgaria. 

The ship is returning to Bulgaria from the Bulgarian base "St. Kliment Ohridski" on Livingston Island in Antarctica, where it delivered supplies for the construction of a new laboratory and supported the research of the 32nd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition and its partner expeditions from other countries. 

"March 3 is a sacred date," Commander Nikolay Danailov said. "This is a day of revival of our Bulgaria. March 3 is a symbol of freedom, of dawn, of hope, of Bulgaria. It takes strength to take your life in your own hands and face the difficulties of making important choices and to learn from your mistakes and move forward. Freedom is a right, but it is also a responsibility. We proudly declare that we are free Bulgarians," said Commander Danailov. 

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean and entering the Mediterranean, a stop is planned in Cartagena in Spain, where 24 cadets, two lecturers and one instructor from the Naval Academy will get onboard. 

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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.