RSV 421 Evacuates Spanish Scientist in Harsh Weather Conditions

At 05:30 local time on February 16, the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii raised anchor in the South Bay of Livingston Island and made a passage to Byers beach to retrieve a Spanish scientist from there, BTA learned from head of "N. Y. Vaptsarov" Naval Academy flotilla admiral Prof. D.M.Sc. Boyan Mednikarov, who accompanied the crew of RSV 421 on part of its voyage to Antarctica.

"This morning at 05:30, Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii made the passage to Byers beach on Livingstone Island in rather complicated hydrometeorological conditions. Once contact was established with the people on that beach, a boat was sent with a Spanish guide and his assistant who approached the shore to evacuate a scientist located on the island," he said.

"The operation was hampered by the low tide in the area of the beach and the boat's inability to approach the area safely and calmly," Prof. Mednikarov added.

The ship waited for the Spaniards, manoeuvring in an area safe from the depths of the bay, keeping one of its boats ready to provide assistance which, in the end, was not needed, and the operation was successfully completed without complications.

On February 15 the RSV 421 got onboard two groups of Spanish scientists from the bases Gabriel de Castilla (Deception Island) and Juan Carlos I (Livingston Island), a scientist from Poland working with the Spaniards, and Bulgarian journalists who had previously disembarked at the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski. Some of the Spanish polar explorers and the Bulgarian scientists, together with Prof. Mednikarov, will be transported to the neighbouring island of King George, where they will board a plane to Chile, and from there they will head for their homes in Europe.

BTA's Daily News editor Konstantin Karagyozov is the only member of the media who is travelling on board the ship to Livingston Island and back and covering the Bulgarian expedition throughout its stay in Antarctica.

All media outlets can use the Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log for free.