site.btaRSV 421 Some 2,000 Miles Away from Mar del Plata

The Bulgarian military research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (NAVAL RSV 421) has traveled just over 3,900 nautical miles in the first 30 days of its voyage to the St. Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island.

RSV 421 continues to move in a south-southwesterly direction along the coast of Brazil towards the second intermediate stop on its route - the port city of Mar del Plata in Argentina - a point from which it is still some 2,000 miles away. There it will be boarded by scientists from the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, led by their President Prof. Christo Pimpirev, as well as scientists from Spain's polar programme.

Meanwhile, the penultimate group of members of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, which will board the ship in Argentina, departed from Sofia airport on Wednesday. There are four scientists in it, but logisticians predominate, as there is serious construction ahead at the Bulgarian base in Antarctica - a new science laboratory is to be built.

RSV 421 is carrying the provisions, building materials and equipment for the Bulgarian base. The ship will support the Bulgarian Antarctic mission by transporting food supplies, cement, building foundations, sandwich panels, a water treatment plant, an office container, etc. to the island.

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.