site.btaDay 20: Ship's Crew with High Morale

At the end of the 20th day of its sail to Antarctica, the Bulgarian Navy research/survey vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii is steering south-southwestward to the Cape Verde Archipelago.

"Our course will take us east of the Cape Verde islands, with some 420 miles to go. The weather is fair: the sea is almost smooth, the wind is from the stern, and we maintain a steady speed of over 9 knots," the Navigator of NAVAL RSV 421, Lieutenant Commander Hristo Hristov, told BTA.

"After 20 days in the open sea, the crew's morale is high, everything is alright. The spirits are raised because we proceed as planned," Hristov assured this correspondent.

The Bulgarian ship is underway towards its second stopover, Mar Del Plata in Argentina, the estimated time of arrival there being early February.

The Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii 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.