site.btaBulgarian Naval Research Vessel Returns to Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) returned to the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island on Saturday night after having sailed to Byers Peninsula and Snow Island, Commander Radko Muevski, the Commanding Officer of the vessel told BTA.

Seismologist Asst Prof Gergana Georgieva, one of the scientists stationed at the St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base, did fieldwork on Saturday. Geomorphologist Daniela Pascal and biologist Alfredo Benitez visited the island to take samples.

A joint expedition with the Spanish expedition was carried out, the aim of which was to explore a route by sledge to Cape Shirreff on Livingston Island. The trek included GPS measurements and placement of temporary measuring equipment.

Physicist Vasil Gurev took measurements at Contell Glacier. Physicist Tsvetan Parov and geologist Assoc Prof Yordanka Donkova were at Johnsons Glacier.

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.