site.btaDay 5: Into the Mediterranean

The Bulgarian research military ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii entered the Mediterranean Sea in the early hours of December 31, which is the 5th day of its voyage to the Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island.

The Bulgarian ship went around the southern part the Peloponnese peninsula and entered the waters of the Mediterranean Sea at around 3:00 am Bulgarian time.

Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii will take around two days to cross the Ionian Sea along its southern boundary with he Mediterranean, following its course between Italy and Malta, Executive Officer Radko Muevski told BTA.

The Bulgarian research military vessel is on a historic voyage to Livingston Island to support the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. The voyage to the Bulgarian Antarctic base on the island is expected to take about 40 days. The ship set sail from the Bulgarian port of city of Varna for Antarctica on December 27.

On January 4, the ship is expected to reach its first stopover on the way to Livingston Island – the Spanish port city of Cartagena. From there, it will continue its journey towards the Strait of Gibraltar and enter the Atlantic Ocean, which it will cross and head to Mar del Plata (Argentina) to pick up part of the Bulgarian researchers taking part in the Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. The first group of scientists arrived on Livingston Island earlier in December.

BTA's Daily News editor Konstantin Karagyozov is the only member of the media who is travelling on the ship to Livingston Island and back, and will accompany the Bulgarian expedition during the whole stay in Antarctica.

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