Story thread · 8 reports / 1 sources

Research Vessel 421 Marks Five Years with Open Day, New Antarctic Research Plans

bta.bg · 13dShare

The Bulgarian research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) hosted an open day in Nessebar on Tuesday to mark five years since joining the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and four Antarctic expeditions. Visitors toured the vessel while its officers outlined its scientific plans and growing role in international cooperation. Retired Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov said the turnout reflected public support for the Bulgarian polar programme. He called the vessel a national cause and said it had given Bulgaria a unique scientific platform, including a new research laboratory and a broader range of projects. Captain Nikolay Danailov, who commanded RSV 421 during its first two Antarctic expeditions, described it as an ambassador for Bulgaria’s polar cause and an instrument of military diplomacy. It was the first Bulgarian naval vessel to enter the Atlantic Ocean and cross the Equator, and its visits to Argentina, Chile and Brazil helped build ties with those countries’ navies. Danailov

First report: July 27, 2021: Bulgaria's First Military Research Vessel Christened Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii — bta.bg, 15d