The Bulgarian research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) successfully delivered equipment to the Spanish Antarctic base, Gabriel de Castilla, on Deception Island. The news was shared by the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna via Facebook.
Scientific Collaborations
The operation included joint efforts between the RSV 421 crew and the Spanish base staff, facilitating scientific research:
- Sample Collection: Researchers Svetoslav Dimov (Department of Genetics, Sofia University) and Vesna Mačić (Institute of Marine Biology, Montenegro) collected essential samples for their respective projects, expanding their research scope on Deception Island.
- Bird Habitats: Ornithologists Bojan Michev and Iliya Vatev conducted studies on nesting bird habitats.
- Social Dynamics Study: Dimitar Panteleev observed the social dynamics, teamwork, and interactions between the RSV 421 crew, researchers, and the Spanish base staff as part of the “Frozen Heritage” project documenting Bulgarian Antarctic exploration.
Diplomatic and Research Exchange
After the successful cargo transfer, RSV 421 crew members were invited by Lieutenant Colonel Javier Moreno, commander of the Spanish base, for a visit.
They also toured the Argentine Navy supply vessel Puerto Argentino and the Argentine Station on Deception Island, further fostering international collaboration in Antarctic research.
