site.btaBulgarian Naval Research Vessel’s Location on Journey to Antarctica Can Be Tracked on BTA’s Website

The location of the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), which set sail for the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island, can be tracked live on BTA’s website by clicking on the "Bulgaria - Antarctica: BTA's log" banner. 

RSV 421 departed from the port city of Varna (on the Black Sea) on November 8 and is expected to return back home in April of next year. 

As part of the 32nd Antarctic expedition, research will be conducted by scientists from the Bulgarian Antarctic institute, Sofia University, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Naval Academy, the National Sports Academy. The research will mainly focus on the natural resources on Livingston Island and the waters surrounding the Shetland Islands, which it is a part of, as well as the climate change on the frozen continent. 

RSV 421’s crew is tasked with transporting close to 70 tonnes of materials for the construction of a new scientific research lab near the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island, said the vessel's Commanding Officer Nikolay Danailov, who will be in charge of the ship for a second time. The facility is scheduled for completion by the expedition’s end in order to survive the severe weather conditions. 

According to Danailov, the researchers will arrive in Antarctica at the start of the astronomical summer on the frozen continent, which will allow them to unload all the materials and conduct their scientific research within 50 days. 

BTA will publish video interviews during the 32nd Antarctic expedition. 

BTA will cover the research projects during the expedition with video, photos and articles, prepared together with the scientists. 

BTA will once again publish detailed information about RSV 421’s second voyage to Antarctica and back, just as it did during last year's expedition, when it was the only media with a correspondent, Konstantin Karagyozov, who was onboard the ship throughout its journey and stay at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base. He transmitted texts, video and photographs on each of the 127 days of the expedition.