site.btaRSV 421 Crew Conducts Survey of Emona Bay Rocks on Livingston Island

The Bulgarian research ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) spent the day at anchor in Emona Bay, part of the South Bay of Livingston Island, in front of the Bulgarian Antarctic base St. Kliment Ohridski. Standard daily hull and material maintenance was carried out on board on Wednesday, and two fuel tanks were removed for the base. The Aleko rocks at the bottom of Emona Bay were surveyed and photographed.

At the base the activities on completion of the new laboratory block continued. Work is being done on the plumbing route between the existing building and the new building, as well as on laying a route for wiring.

There was also a joint action with the Spanish expedition to explore a route to Cape Shirev by sledge. GPS measurements and route downloading were carried out during the trek, as well as the installation of temporary measuring equipment at the end point of the trek.

The seismologist Dr. Gergana Georgieva and physicist Vasil Gurev measured points on the Balkan glacier. Physicist Tsvetan Parov, geologist Dr. Yordanka Donkova and Dr. Boyan Michev conducted an expedition with the Zodiac boat to the Johnson's Dock.

The 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 can be accessed free in English at Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log on BTA's website and can be used for free by all media with attribution to BTA.