The expedition is financed by the state and various donations, from 10 kg of honey given by a beekeeper to two food trucks from Kaufland Bulgaria
The first Bulgarian military research vessel (RSV) “Saints Cyril and Methodius” will set sail from Varna for Antarctica on December 27, said the head of the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, professor Christo Pibirev.
Mr Pibirev added that members of the expedition will carry out programs approved by the National Polar Research Programme: sampling the bottom sediments around Livingstone Island in South Shetland to check for pollution, identifying traces of flora and fauna in the samples and, onshore, further exploration to locate mineral deposits around the Bulgarian Base. Pibirev recalled that in the previous expedition gold was discovered, and now rare earths will be sought.
The 31st expedition is funded by the state and various donations, from 10 kg of honey given by a beekeeper to two food trucks from Kaufland Bulgaria.
The ship’s chief officer, Lieutenant Commander Nikolai Danailov, said the 26 crew members included three cadets from the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna. The journey will take four months and the boat will take 40 days to reach Livingstone Island. The captain added that a doctor from the Military Medical Academy will also be on board and will have adequate medical equipment. “Saints Cyril and Methodius” will celebrate New Year in the Mediterranean.
Repairs to the ship cost about 4.5 million leva, said the rector of the Naval Academy, Admiral Professor Dr. Boyan Mednikarov. He noted that the preparation of the mission has faced a problem due to the increase in the price of fuel. Additional funding has been provided and about BGN 3 million will be spent on fuel, he added. The Naval Academy will be represented on this trip and its members will participate in scientific research.
In addition to the Antarctic missions, the ship will also be used to train cadets, officers and students of the Varna naval schools, the rector said. There are also plans for research in collaboration with various institutes.
The process of purchasing the research vessel started in February 2021. Bulgaria bought the vessel from a Russian. The ship belongs to a consortium in which the Maritime Academy, the University of Agios Klimis Ahrida in Sofia and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute participate. Saints Cyril and Methodius joined the fleet of the Bulgarian Navy on July 27, 2021.
The mayor of Varna, Ivan Portnih, handed over the city’s flag to the mission leaders, wishing them a successful and safe journey.
RES-EMP
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