The Bulgarian naval research ship sets sail on its third expedition to Antarctica (see pics)

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (St. Cyril and Methodius) set sail on November 7 from Varna Marine Station on its third polar expedition to Antarctica. The crew consists of 34 people. Radko Muevski is the captain.

Two ornithologists, two scientists from Greece and a meteorologist and a seismologist from the United Arab Emirates are part of the expedition to the icy continent.

The crew was sent off in an official ceremony. On board the vessel, there is a space laboratory thanks to which the crew will receive satellite images. The laboratory will also be synchronised with the state-of-the-art Balkan-1 satellite, which will be launched into orbit in February 2025.

Images by BTA

In this mission, the Bulgarian polar expedition will have the most advanced systems to observe the Earth from space. They will be able to investigate the state of the ice, its chemical composition, pollution, hydro and meteorological conditions. In addition, for the first time, scientists have come on board who will observe birds during the voyage and study the aquatic inhabitants of the polar continent.

"It is very important to study temperature changes and global warming, changes in water salinity, melting of glaciers, because the slightest change in environmental conditions can lead to disastrous consequences for this unique animal life," said Prof. Hristo Pimpyrev.

Nearly 40 foreign scientists are participating in this year's expedition. Among them there are experts from countries that have not sent their representatives to Antarctica before.

These are two scientists, one meteorologist and one seismologist from the United Arab Emirates. This is their first Antarctic expedition. Two ladies from Greece are going, which is the first Greek Antarctic expedition.

The ship's cargo includes a barrel of wine, but it is there for scientific purposes only, namely to produce Madeira-style technology from the past.

"Namely, a barrel in unconventional conditions, not stored in a cellar in damp and cold, but in the heat, with a lot of shaking, evaporation and concentration to achieve the effect that is achieved in these unique wines," explained Vladislav Vankov, winemaker.

One of the most difficult missions for the crew will be reaching the shores of the inaccessible Smith Island.

"This year again we have this task set and we will try to achieve it, as this is an island that has not been reached before and it is good to develop our research activities in this direction, to succeed in sampling there as well," said the ship's commander Capt. II rank Radko Muevski.

The ship is due to arrive at the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island shortly before the New Year.

Speaking to media on November 5, Muevski said that the route the ship will take will be almost identical to the previous two expeditions, lasting about 50 days and travelling through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea, to the Spanish port of Cartagena. There, the short-term interns from the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy will disembark to return to Bulgaria.

After fuelling and loading, the ship will continue to sail across the ocean until reaching its next port, Mar del Plata in Argentina, which should take about 25 days. From there, the research vessel will continue its expedition to the southernmost city on the planet, Ushuaia, where a group of logistic and scientific workers will board the ship. Muevski pointed out that with good planning and good weather, the Drake Passage could be crossed in 3-4 days, after which the ship will reach the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island. According to the plan, the crew will stay there for 45 days and will welcome the new year 2025 at the base, before they set sail for the return voyage after mid-February and arrive back in Varna in April 2025.