site.btaRSV 421 Crosses Smoothly through Drake Passage

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) completed her crossing of Drake Passage at approximately 10 p.m. local time on February 18, RSV 421 Commander Radko Muevski told BTA on Wednesday.

Due to anticipated adverse hydrometeorological conditions, RSV 421 is currently at anchor in Bahia Buen Suceso Bay on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Argentina. Once conditions improve, during the evening of February 19, the vessel will continue her voyage to Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, Muevski explained.

"During the passage into Drake, the hydrometeorological conditions were with a swell of about 3 and a half meters from different directions, as several wind fronts were passing and forming it. Within about 50 hours we crossed the strait at an average speed of about 9 and a half to 10 knots. The sailing was normal in relation to the hydrometeorological conditions," added Muevski.

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.