Balgarianovinite.com In 2021, the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, together with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute and the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, acquired a research vessel to support Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions, conduct research under the National Polar Research Programme, and serve as part of the Naval Academy. Christened Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii after brothers St Cyril and St Methodius on July 27, 2021, RSV 421 has since carried out four Antarctic missions as part of the annual Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions to Livingston Island.
Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii was built as a supply ship by Simek AS in Flekkefjord, Norway, in 1984. She has a gross tonnage of 2,194 tonnes, a summer deadweight of 1,103 tonnes, and a draught of 4.5 metres. Her overall length is 67.48 metres, and her extreme breadth is 16.82 metres.
The vessel’s first registered owner was Farstad Supply. She was named Stad Sleipner until January 1990, when she was renamed Far Sleipner.
Later on, she was acquired by Subsea Survey Solutions of Moscow, and was renamed Iskatel in June 2011, with Murmansk as her home port. The vessel was converted into a subsea survey ship for the construction of the South Stream pipeline. She was docked in the Port of Varna for years.
When the project was cancelled, the Russian owner sold the vessel to a consortium consisting of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute for BGN 1.2 million in a public procurement procedure launched in February 2021. The ship was repaired at a cost of some BGN 4.5 million.
On July 2, 2021, at a meeting in Sofia of the National Centre for Polar Studies with the University of Sofia, a naming commission chose the name Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii from among 250 proposals.
In December 2022, RSV 421 departed on its maiden mission to Antarctica with the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. BTA’s English Service staffer Konstantin Karagyozov covered the voyage from Varna to Livingston Island from the Agency’s National Press Club aboard the vessel.
In early April 2026, the ship returned from her fourth Antarctic mission.
RSV 421 is currently the largest Bulgarian Navy ship and is registered at the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
The following is an original news item from BTA’s English Service:
Bulgaria’s First Military Research Vessel Christened Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii
July 27, 2021 (BTA) – Speaking at Tuesday’s solemn ceremony on raising the flag and christening the first Bulgarian military research vessel with hull No 421, the Bulgarian Chief of Defence, Admiral Evtim Evtimov, said: “The flag of the Bulgarian Navy, waved for the first time by the Danube Fleet, is also to be projected in the Southern Ocean.” Bulgarian Oscar-nominated actress Maria Bakalova christened the ship Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii, wishing the ship to carry the glory of the Bulgarian Navy and bear the name of the illustrious brothers, the Defence Ministry said.
Admiral Eftimov addressed the leaderships of the Naval Academy, the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as everyone engaged in the process of acquisition and subsequent use of the ship. He also said the cadets and students of the Naval Academy will use it for practical courses. Turning to Bakalova, he expressed respect for her achievements and gratitude for agreeing to christen the ship, saying her success in a highly competitive field would serve as a motivation for the commander and his crew at the execution of each mission.
The Chief of Defence handed the ensign of the vessel to the ship’s captain, Commander Nikolai Danailov, with the words: “Yours is the honour and the enormous responsibility to transform into deeds the ideas of this project.” He also bade the ship the traditional “Godspeed!”
The solemn christening ceremony was held on the day the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples. The day will also be the feast day of the ship. A ceremony at the solemn raising of the ensign and the accompanying flags was held.
The military research vessel is owned by a consortium including the Bulgarian Antarctic base, the Naval Academy, the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute. July 27, 2021: Bulgaria’s First Military Research Vessel Christened Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-27 19:29:10 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law