site.btaDay 37: Nearing Uruguay Territorial Waters

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (NAVAL RSV 421) is sailing at a speed of around 8.5 knots towards Mar del Plata in Argentina - her second intermediate stop on her journey to Antarctica. "The ship continues to sail, keeping a 220-degree course along the South American shores. We will soon move close to the territorial waters of Uruguay but without entering. After that we will continue past La Plata - the estuary where the Parana and Uruguay rivers meet before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean," Lieutenant Commander Radko Muevski, Executive Officer of the vessel, told BTA. 

At the point where it flows into the South Atlantic the width of the estuary La Plata grows to 220 km, which makes it the widest in the world. La Plata also forms part of the border between Uruguay and Argentina - the two capitals, Montevideo and Buenos Aires, are on its northern and southern side.

In Mar del Plata, four scientists from the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute and logisticians will board the ship, as a major construction activity is about to take place at the St. Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island - a new scientific laboratory is to be built. RSV 421 carries the provisions, building materials and equipment for the base. The ship will support the Bulgarian polar mission by transporting to the island food supplies, cement, building foundations, sandwich panels, a water treatment plant, an office container, etc.

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, who will cover the Bulgarian expedition on site throughout the stay in Antarctica.

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