In brief
The Bulgarian naval research vessel RSV 421 will reach the Bosphorus Strait on Thursday morning, a key stop before it turns toward the Dardanelles, Aegean Sea, and Antalya for COP31. The ship is carrying BTA journalists and will provide logistical support for Bulgaria’s St Kliment Ohridski Base in Antarctica.
The Bulgarian research vessel RSV 421 is expected to reach the Bosphorus Strait on Thursday as it departs Varna for its fifth Antarctic expedition. According to Captain Radko Muevski, the ship will arrive in the Bosphorus area around 6‑7 a.m. and will pass through the strait by 9 or 10 a.m., where it will anchor and refuel at the southernmost entrance.
After refueling, the vessel is slated to continue eastward through the Sea of Marmara toward the Dardanelles, then into the Aegean Sea before heading for Antalya, where it will take part in this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The mission also supports Bulgaria’s 35th Antarctic Expedition by providing logistical assistance for the St Kliment Ohridski Base on Livingston Island.
"The Naval Academy in Varna emphasized that the mission of RSV 421 is essential for developing Bulgaria's presence in the polar regions, conducting scientific research and establishing the country as an active participant in international Antarctic cooperation," stated a naval spokesperson.
BTA journalists have been aboard RSV 421 since 2022, and this expedition features reporter Simona‑Alex Mihaleva and photojournalist Milena Stoykova, who will remain on board until the vessel reaches Antalya.
"We expect to be in the area of the Bosphorus Strait at around 6‑7 a.m. on November 5," Muevski told the Bulgarian News Agency.
