BAREG 2024 End-of-Year Message

Overview of 2024

BAREG had a good year in 2024, we made the first BAREG trip to the U-869, a recce of the USS Katahdin wreck site, and collaborated with the Naval History and Heritage Command to remove samples of Alberich from the U-1105.  We also ran a successful and very fun trip to Scapa Flow.  On the downside, weather limited dive ops on the Atlas and blew out several scheduled dive trips (U-853 II, SS John Morgan, and the late spring U-1105 dive).  Highlights of 2024 dives will be presented at the symposium on 25 January.

New Membership Dues & Revised Charter

At the business meeting last month, the membership approved increasing the dues for individual and family memberships and discontinuing five-year and life memberships. Existing life and five-year memberships are grandfathered in and current five-year memberships will expire at the end of their terms.   

This is the first dues increase since we established BAREG in 2013 and it is required to keep pace with our increased operating cost, most notably liability insurance.  Dues for BAREG membership are set in the group’s charter and changing the dues requires revising the charter.  BAREG Charter Version10.0 is attached to this message, see Sections 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 for the revised dues information.

Call for 2025 Dues

Our new annual dues rate is now in effect.  The new rate for members joining or renewing is $50.00 per year for an individual and $75.00 per year for a family membership. 

Dues can be paid via paypal using this email for our account: geographerfc@gmail.com, by check/cash at the symposium, or by check via snail mail.  If you are using paypal remember to use the friends/family option to avoid the service fee or add enough to cover the fee.  Information on the service fee rate can be found on the paypal website.  If you are paying by check, please make it out to BAREG, and if you are mailing it in, here is our address:

Battle of the Atlantic Research & Expedition Group
PO Box 17302
Alexandria, VA 22302

December 2024 U-1105 Buoy Ops

Fall buoy ops we completed on Saturday, 7 DEC, and the U-1105 mooring buoy is ashore at Tall Timbers Marina.  The buoy requires a thorough cleaning, fresh paint, and new lettering.  We will begin this work in March as we plan to have the buoy back on station in early Spring.  Many thanks to the Fall 2024 buoy ops divers: Mike Pope, Jay Lytell, and Brian Wohler, and to the boat crew, First Mate Megan Rosengrant and First Mate Emeritus Carl Rosengrant.

Insurance

All BAREG members participating as divers in the group’s projects, historical expeditions, and training must show proof of insurance, not just a DAN membership number.  This new requirement will be incorporated into the BAREG charter following membership approval at the symposium. 

BAREG 2025 Activities

Note: Bell Island Trip August 2025 Divers– final payment due 31 DEC2024.

We have made some revisions to the 2025 schedule since the business meeting last month, please use the schedule below to update your calendars.
Note, there are four events labelled RFI, and we are looking for members interested in participating in these events:

1. The Battle of the Atlantic (BoA) Course is a day-long deep dive into U-boat and Allied technology and operations.  Bill Chadwell is the course instructor and he is known for his authoritative and in-depth briefings.  The course is highly recommended for new members and for members looking to fill in knowledge gaps on the BoA.  This is a classroom-only course.
2. Quarry Gardens Recce is an initial dive in the quarry to assess conditions and scope the survey effort.  The recce dives are likely the first dives ever made in this quarry.  Here is a link to information about the site:  https://www.tclf.org/quarry-gardens-schuyler
3. Quarry Gardens Survey, along with the Recce, will provide BAREG divers an opportunity to refresh underwater survey skills in cold, dark waters.  At the end of the survey BAREG will provide the Quarry Gardens a site map of the major underwater features in the quarry. 
4. BAREG Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) training is a combination of a classroom session and hands-on skills training on land and in the water.  The training is conducted in southern Maryland and the NAS tutor is Troy Nowak, a professional archaeologist.

2025 Activities Plan – Version 2.0

1. 8-11 JAN: SHA Conference, New Orleans – Confirmed
2. 18 & 19 JAN: U-1105 – Confirmed
3. 25 JAN:  BAREG Annual Symposium – Confirmed, location TBD
4. 1 & 2 FEB: U-1105/other Potomac wrecks: Confirmed
5. Battle of the Atlantic Course: Tentative, FEB or early MAR – RFI
6. 29 & 30 MAR: U-1105 Buoy Ops – Confirmed
7. 5-11 APR: BAREG Germany & Denmark U-boat & Battle of Jutland History Trip (non-dive) – two spots open, requires departing CONUS for Hamburg NLT 4 APR – Confirmed
8. 26 or 27 APR: Quarry Gardens Survey Recce – Tentative – RFI
9. 3 & 4 MAY: U-1105 Alternate Buoy Ops/U-1105 Dives – Confirmed
10. 17 & 18 MAY: Quarry Garden Survey – Tentative – RFI
11. 29 MAY – 1 JUN: USS Katahdin & other wrecks – Confirmed
12. JUN (2nd week, exact dates TBD): NJ/Mid-Atlantic Wrecks w/ U-869 (Advanced Trimix cert required)
13. 19 & 20 JUL:  U-853, Point Judith, RI – Tentative
14. 16-23 AUG: Bell Island, Newfoundland – Booked, full, see highlighted note above if you’re on this trip.
15. 30 & 31 AUG: U-1105 – Confirmed
16. 27 & 28 SEP: NAS Training – RFI
17. Fall TBD: USS Oriskany CV-34: Fall 2025 – Tentative        
18. 4 & 5 OCT: NAS Training (alternate date) or U-1105    
19. 15 NOV:  Business Meeting – Tentative
20. 6 & 7 DEC: Buoy Ops – Confirmed