site.btaRSV 421 to Arrive in Varna on April 11

The first Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) will return from her third expedition to Antarctica on April 11, the Varna Naval Academy said on Wednesday. She will be officially welcomed at a ceremony attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, the scientific community and local authorities.

During the third expedition, a space laboratory was equipped on board the ship. The Commanding Officer of the ship is Radko Muevski. RSV 421 carried equipment for a new scientific laboratory to the Bulgarian base on Livingstone Island. The laboratory was officially unveiled in February.

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) departed from Varna on its third Antarctic expedition on November 7, 2024, and arrived at Livingston Island on December 28. The St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island opened for the new polar season on November 23, 2024.

BTA has a national press club on the vessel and at the Bulgarian Antarctic base. This is the third year in a row that BTA has sent a correspondent to Antarctica. This year's correspondent is Milena Ostrovska, who arrived at the base on January 17. Her reports are available for free in English at the Bulgaria-Antarctica Log on BTA's website and can be used for free by all media with attribution to BTA.