Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii

On 7 November 2024, Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii left Varna with a crew of 34, beginning the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, and on 28 December, the vessel reached the St Kliment Ohridski Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.^[5] On 10 January, the ship's crew became the first Bulgarians to visit Smith Island.^[6] In January 2025, the vessel delivered equipment to the Spanish Antarctic base Gabriel de Castilla on Deception Island.^[7] On 30 January, the vessel sailed from Livingston Island to Byers Peninsula, Greenwich Island, and King George Island to transfer personnel between Bulgarian, Spanish, and Ecuadorian bases.^[8] In early February 2025, the vessel sailed to Deception Island and back to transfer of six Spanish scientists.^[9] On 16 February, the vessel departed Livingston Island with all passengers and participants of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition on board^[10] and on 18 February, they crossed Drake Passage^[11] on their way to Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, where they docked on February 22.^[12] Some participants of the expedition returned to Bulgaria by flying from Argentina, while the vessel continued its voyage home.^[13][14] On 11 April 2025, Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii returned to Varna, concluding the expedition. The research vessel travelled 19,725 miles in 155 days during this voyage, which was its third expedition to Antarctica.^[15]

On 7 November 2025, the vessel has departed from Varna on its 4th voyage to Antarctica with Bulgaria's 34th Antarctic expedition.^[16][17] The ship docked at Punta Arenas on 21 December^[18] and then arrived at St. Kliment Ohridski Base on 26 December, marking the start of the active phase of the expedition.^[19]