site.btaArgentine Antarctic Expedition Scientists Consider Implementing Their Projects on Board RSV 421

Scientists from the Argentine Antarctic expedition are considering the possibility of implementing some of their projects on board the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), the vessel’s commander, Captain 2nd rank Nikolay Danailov, told BTA.

The Bulgarian crew invited the Argentine researchers on board RSV 421, which docked in front of the Carlini research station on King George Island.

Captain Nikolay Danailov briefed them on the opportunities for research activities the vessel offers. Shortly before he sent his guests off, he presented the Argentine group with a photo of RSV 421 and embroidery with the logo of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute.

Danailov noted that the researchers were introduced to the capabilities of the ship not only as a vessel carrying out transport or cargo operations but also as serving as a good scientific infrastructure.

"This is the result of the good cooperation between Bulgaria and Argentina, in the person of our ambassador to the country, Stoyan Mihailov," Danailov said, noting that the cooperation between the two countries has been going on for more than 30 years.

Ambassador Mihaylov told BTA that the purpose of the visit to the Carlini Base, which operates all year round, is to establish direct contacts with its leadership, both civilian and military. "This will be beneficial for RSV 421 and will lay a good foundation for cooperation between Bulgarian and Argentine scientists," he noted. Mihaylov noted that it is crucial to establishing Bulgarian-Argentine cooperation and mutual assistance in Antarctica. "This is very important given that the climate in this part of the world is extremely variable and unpredictable, as is the behaviour of the water. All kinds of situations that call for a quick response can arise," he added.

On Friday, the Bulgarian Antarctic team visited the Argentine Antarctic research station Carlini. It included the leader of the 32nd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, Prof Christo Pimpirev, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Argentina, Stoyan Mihaylov, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov, head of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, among others.

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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.