site.btaAheloy Hosts Traditional Training Camp for Participants in Upcoming Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition

Participants in the upcoming 34th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition have taken part in a traditional training camp in the town of Aheloy, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI) said on Monday.

During the camp, the logistics team completed a first aid course. Kamen Nedkov, commander of the St Kliment Ohridski base, outlined the tasks to be carried out during the new season. Captain Radko Muevski, commander of the naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), briefed the participants on the planned voyage route.

This year’s expedition will focus on the implementation of 20 scientific projects, six of which are led by teams from Bulgaria’s international partners. The research programme is fully funded by the Education and Science Ministry's national scientific programme for polar research. 

Alongside the Bulgarian researchers, the expedition will include two marine biologists from Greece, two from Montenegro, a geomorphologist from Romania, and four scientists from the United Arab Emirates.

Оnce the St Kliment Ohridski base is opened by the Chilean Navy vessel Aquiles, two scientists from Portugal and two marine biologists from the United States will join the team, the BAI said. Researchers from Ecuador and Colombia will also take part during the second phase of the expedition.

By tradition, Bulgaria's President, Rumen Radev, will present the participants in the expedition with the Bulgarian flag on November 4. The Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii vessel will embark on its fourth mission to Livingston Island on November 7, departing from the Sea Station in Varna.