Varna, on the Black Sea, May 13 (BTA/GNA) – Scientists conducted Black Sea studies at depths of about 800 metres using the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), ship captain Radko Muevski said during a conference of the Maritime Scientific Society in Varna, on the Black Sea, on Wednesday.
The event also launched celebrations marking the 145th anniversary of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy.
Muevski highlighted the ship’s Antarctic expeditions and research on the icy continent and pointed out that during the latest voyage, the crew carried out its first study of sea currents in the Bransfield Strait, calling it a major step in marine research.
The expedition also enabled the vessel to reach new areas of Antarctica. Preparations are already underway for the next Antarctic mission, including loading equipment for the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island, Muevski said, adding that some of the equipment will be used to expand the scientific laboratory there.
He emphasized that RSV 421 is also conducting active environmental monitoring in the Black Sea through international projects with an institute in Bergen, focused on deep-sea and environmental research. Depths below 200-300 metres remain poorly explored, Muevski stressed, adding that studies found microorganisms at 300-400 metres, but no life was detected in samples taken from around 800 metres.
The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) will sail again for marine environment monitoring in June and is expected to visit the Constanta Naval Academy in Romania.
GNA/BTA