“Antarctica’s climate is getting warmer. And that affects all living organisms.” This was stated by the Chairman of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute prof. Hristo Pimpirev, shortly before the military research ship (NIC 421) “St. St. Kiril i Metodii” docked in Varna.
Bulgarian scientists are carrying out numerous projects in Antarctica in the field of microbiology. On the icy continent they study endemic organisms from which they extract strains to make new drugs against modern diseases such as cancer, for example.
Scientists are working on more than 30 projects during their 33rd polar expedition. They are also launching an entirely new one, to study solar activity, which incorporates astrophysics and astronomy into polar research.
The completed polar expedition makes the Bulgarians the sixth team in the world to visit the still unexplored Smith Island in Antarctica. So far only 5 expeditions have set foot on it – the US, the UK and three tourist expeditions to conquer its highest peak. For the first time, geological surveys have been made on the island by our scientists. The very first samples showed that there are probably turquoises there, said Hristo Pimpirev. According to him, Smith (part of the South Shetland Islands) is yet to be studied because it is rich in valuable rare metals. We need to study it because in 20 years, when the moratorium falls, Bulgaria will be able to use these riches, Prof. Pimpirev added. The scientist called the completed polar expedition one of the most successful so far.
The ship “St. St. Kiril i Metodii” docked at Varna Sea Station in the late afternoon. Under the command of Capt. II rank Radko Muevski sailed 34 people, including four ladies and two Romanian cadets.
For its third Antarctic mission, the ship is equipped with a new EnduroSat laboratory. During the voyage, it receives, processes and analyses space data collected by Earth and water surface observation systems from space. The new acquisition provides the crew with the capability to monitor ship traffic, pollution, and allows for hydrometeorological monitoring.
The 33rd Bulgarian Polar Expedition involves 37 scientists, including specialists from Greece and the United Arab Emirates. For the first time this year, the expedition includes ornithologists with the task to study the diversity of bird species during the journey, the stay at the base on Livingstone Island and back. Seismologists and a specialist from the Institute of Underwater Archaeology also joined the scientific expedition.
NIC 421 “St. St. Kiril and Metodii” for 3 years is part of the military staff of the Higher Naval Academy”N. Y. Vaptsarov”. The vessel is the first military warship in the history of naval navigation to sail to the icy waters of Antarctica. It has already participated in three successful research expeditions to Livingstone Island.
