site.btaDay 7: NAVAL RSV 421 Leaves Italian Territorial Waters

In the early hours of January 2, the Bulgarian military research/survey vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii left Italian territorial waters in the Mediterranean southwest of Sicily. The ship will proceed in a north-northwesterly direction until Monday evening, when it will take a slight turn and will bypass Tunisia without entering the African state's territorial waters.

Between 0600 and 1830 hrs on January 1, the vessel covered approximately 108 nautical miles (some 200 km) en route to Cartagena, Spain, in excellent weather conditions. The waves are about 0.5 degrees Douglas, and the wind is light, of a speed varying from 1.5 to 5 m/sec.

NAVAL RSV 421 is on its historic first voyage to Livingston Island in the South Shetlands in support of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. The ship is expected to reach its destination in some 40 days.

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

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