site.btaRSV 421 Transports Bulgarian and Spanish Scientists For Fieldwork

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) carried on January 23 for fieldwork five scientists (four Bulgarians and one Colombian) and three field assistants from the Bulgarian Antarctic base, said the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. Six researchers and five field assistants from the Spanish Antarctic base "Juan Carlos I" worked with the Bulgarian polar explorers.

As BTA special correspondent Milena Ostrovska reported, the field work was carried out at Hannah Point and Elephant Point, which are located in the western part of the island Livingston Island

The Academy said that the two bays are about 12 nautical miles away from the polar bases.

RSV 421 transported the scientists and field workers to the two areas. The teams reached the shore in Zodiac boats, the Navy said. After completing their fieldwork, the scientists and field workers were picked up and transported back to the two Antarctic bases, of Bulgaria and Spain.

The scientific work included observation and description of local bird colonies, sampling, shoreline surveys, depth measurements and shoreline reconnaissance. Of critical importance was the exploration of safe approach options to the peninsulas.

Securing fieldwork is a major task of RSV 421. The good contacts and cooperation with the scientific and logistic units of the Spanish Antarctic programme were strengthened during the joint work.

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.