site.btaDay 115: RSV 421 Sails Past Algiers

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) sailed past Algiers on the morning of April 20. The ship was on a bearing of 90 degrees (east) on its way back to Bulgaria after a successful mission in support of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition to Livingston Island.

After leaving the Spanish port of Cartagena, RSV 421 wrestled with sea waves surging up to 3-4 degrees Douglas on April 19 and through the following night. In the morning, the weather improved, allowing the vessel to resume its average speed of 9 knots.

Back on April 18, a group of 24 cadets of the Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna boarded RSV 421. Led by three Bulgarian Navy officers and a civilian instructor, they will have two weeks of sailing practice as RSV 421 goes from Spain to Bulgaria. A previous group of Vaptsarov Naval Academy cadets had a similar stint of sailing practice in the early days of the ship's mission.

Before arriving in Varna, RSV 421 will have one last stop at the Greek port of Piraeus, where, in the space of two days, the Vaptsarov Naval Academy will discuss cooperation with the Hellenic Naval Academy. The ship is expected to wind up its voyage on May 2, when it docks at Varna.

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 covered the Bulgarian expedition on site throughout its stay in Antarctica.

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