site.btaEnduroSat Satellite Systems Lab Aids Planning for RSV 421's Safe Crossing of Drake Passage

Aboard Bulgaria's naval research ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) on Saturday at the EnduroSat satellite systems laboratory, a check was made on the plan to make the passage through the Drake Passage, which will take place when the ship and some of the scientists from the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition head home. The verification was carried out by Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov (Ret), RSV 421 commanding officer Nikolay Danailov, Chief Petty Officer Yavor Stoyneva and cadet Viktoria Petrova.

"This lab was created with the help of our partners from the EnduroSat company. This is a unique research infrastructure that very significantly expands the monitoring and analysis capabilities of those scientists working on board the ship. It was inaugurated just before departure for its third campaign, providing the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic expedition," Mednikarov told BTA.

He said work has begun on verifying the plan to make the crossing of the Drake Passage. "The period in which the crossing is planned starts with the sailing from Livingston Island on February 16. It will take approximately 64 hours to cross the Strait. The time is relatively short and the window is relatively narrow. Our task now is, on the basis of additional information received from EnduroSat systems, to specify whether there are additional obstacles for this crossing option in terms of ice conditions and the presence of icebergs in the crossing area, especially in the area below 60 degrees south, and thus to have a greater level of navigation safety in the upcoming voyage," Mednikarov explained.

After examining the latest images received from the EnduroSat systems, the data was reflected on the transition map. Mednikarov added that the enhanced capabilities of the database they receive will further benefit the ship's navigation.

Danailov explained that at this time, based on the satellite imagery and the analysis on it, the passage through the Drake Passage is expected to be ice-free, with no iceberg movement and no presence of ice drift.

He added that towards the end of the passage a slight deterioration in the weather was possible, but thanks to good planning by the vessel's commanding officer, this could be avoided. For this reason, it is necessary to leave earlier within 12 hours to be able to cross the strait more easily. "The expectation will be that we will be prepared for deterioration and be ready if ice occurs, but at the moment, thanks to the satellite imagery we are receiving from EnduroSat, I dare say we will get through without problems," Danailov summarised.

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) departed from Varna on its third Antarctic expedition on November 7, 2024, and arrived at Livingston Island on December 28. The St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island opened for the new polar season on November 23, 2024.

BTA has a national press club on the vessel and at the Bulgarian Antarctic base. This is the third year in a row that BTA has sent a correspondent to Antarctica. This year's correspondent is Milena Ostrovska, who arrived at the base on January 17. Her reports are available for free in English at the Bulgaria-Antarctica Log on BTA's website and can be used for free by all media with attribution to BTA.