site.btaFirst Mate Shows BTA Around Research Vessel's Navigation Bridge

On Day 6 of the historic first voyage of the Bulgarian research/survey vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii to Livingston Island in support of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, the ship's Executive Officer, Radko Muevski, took this correspondent on a guided tour of the navigation bridge.

The vessel's electronic navigation relies on an echo sounder, a satellite compass, an electronic chart, a Universal Automatic Identification System (UAIS) transponder, a GPS using the Russian GloNass and the American GPS Navstar systems, and a NAVTEX (navigational text messages) system providing short range maritime safety information.

A radar installed in the front part of the bridge ensures the vessel's safe navigation at night. A second radar intercepts waves in the 2 to 4 GHz range.

Besides this, the bridge has an anemometer, which measures wind speed and direction, and a gyro repeater, which is used near the coast and to identify the direction of the movement of nearby ships.

There are two more gyro repeaters, flanking the navigation bridge deck on the outside, Muevski explained.

The equipment also includes two VHF radios, which are used by the crew for communication during a watch. A third VHF radio is tuned to a different channel for digital selective log-in through other radios or ships. A receiver of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) is there, too.

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 cover the Bulgarian expedition on site throughout their stay in Antarctica. 

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