The first stage of the cargo unloading after the arrival of the Bulgarian naval research ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) on Livingston Island within the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic expedition has been completed, Flotilla Admiral Prof. Boyan Mednikarov, Rector of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna told BTA.
During the operation, RSV 421 stocked the St. Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic base with fuel, food and other supplies, but also supported the neighboring Spanish base Juan Carlos I. As Antarctic traditions of cooperation dictate, on February 13 and 14 the crew of St. Cyril and Methodius, Bulgarian and Spanish polar explorers worked side by side to help each other with transfer to the coast.
Bulgarian-Spanish friendship in Antarctica, which dates back more than 30 years, does not end here within the current expedition to the Ice Continent. RSV 421 has taken on board a Spanish researcher from the Juan Carlos I base and is already preparing for a passage to the neighbouring island of Deception on the morning of February 15. Another Spanish polar base, Gabriel de Castilla, is located on Deception, where the ship will unload the provisions and construction materials it is carrying from Cartagena (Spain).
Weather conditions permitting, in the late hours of February 15, RSV 421 will head back to Livingston, picking up first seven 7 Spanish Antarctic crew members from Discovery, then another 15 from Juan Carlos I, as well as the Bulgarian journalists who spent the night at the home base. All of them will be transported to the neighbouring island of King George, from where they will gradually take flights to their homes in Europe.
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, who 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.
