site.btaBulgarian Naval Research Vessel Crossing Drake Passage en Route to Antarctica

After a brief port call at Ushuaia and a Christmas celebration in the world's southernmost city, Bulgaria's naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) started crossing the Drake Passage on December 25, the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy of Varna said on Facebook.

Bulgarian and international scientists who will work on projects in the South Shetland Islands, logisticians and builders who will complete the construction of a new scientific laboratory boarded the ship in Ushuaia. Scientists from Saudi Arabia, Montenegro and Greece are aboard the Bulgarian naval vessel on their first ever trip to Antarctica.

RSV 421 is expected to reach Livingston Island where the Bulgarian Antarctic Base is located on the evening of December 28. A number of science projects are to be supported by the ship. For the third year in a row, Naval Academy cadets are doing long-term practice aboard the ship.