site.btaFirst Group of 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition Sets Sail on Chilean Ship Achilles 41

The first group of Bulgaria’s 34th Antarctic expedition has departed for Antarctica aboard the Chilean naval vessel Achilles 41, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute announced on Tuesday.

The team includes an international group of biologists – Prof. José Xavier and Dr. José Seco from Portugal, Assistant Prof. Emily Sparrow and doctoral student Ariel Leahy from the United States, and Assoc. Prof. Simona Georgieva and Dr. Borislava Margaritova from Bulgaria.

The logistics team consists of base commander Kamen Nedkov, Dr. Tsvetan Vassilev, mechanics Vladimir Gigov and Lyuben Lyubenov, electrical engineer Krasimir Krastev, boat operator Elka Vassileva, and logisticians Anastas Abadzhiev and Alexander Naydenov, with Samuil Chelebiev serving as cook.

After crossing the Drake Passage, the Achilles 41 will anchor in South Bay, Livingston Island, near Bulgaria’s St. Kliment Ohridski Antarctic Base. The Bulgarian Antarctic Institute said the team will first prepare the base for the upcoming Antarctic summer season, after which scientific research will begin in the waters around the South Shetland Islands.

The first group of the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition departed from Sofia for Antarctica on November 6.