site.btaRSV 421 to Transport Bulgarian and Spanish Scientists for Field Work

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) will transport scientists and logisticians from the Bulgarian and Spanish Antarctic bases for field work to the bays of Hannah Point and Elephant Point, which are located in the western part of Livingston Island, Commander Radko Muevski, the Commanding Officer of the ship, told BTA.

The Spanish scientists will disembark at Elephant Point, where they are scheduled to stay between six and eight hours for an initial comprehensive field survey and sampling. The Bulgarian scientists will visit neighboring bays for field work.

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 in Bulgarian and English. In May 2024, BTA published an issue of the magazine LIK, dedicated to Bulgarian science in Antarctica, which is freely available in online. The issue has been translated into English and Spanish.

In February last year, BTA opened a National Press Club at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island (in addition to the other 40 national press clubs, 33 in Bulgaria and 6 outside the country). The press club exist thanks to the gratuitous support of the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii and the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski which provided premises.

Thus, the national news agency of Bulgaria contributes to the presentation of Bulgarian science in Antarctica and fulfills its mission to popularize Bulgaria.

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 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.