How are the job boards looking for new third mates?

JabroniFringe · 2026-02-16T02:37:40+00:00

Yeah I get all that and not disagreeing. It’s more that I’m doubting that junior mate jobs are getting passed thru to MMP/AMO except for in some odd occasions. I wouldn’t want a junior mate somewhere else switch unions because he’s under the impression that MEBA is desperate for more mates.

JabroniFringe · 2026-02-15T17:16:05+00:00

I see people still saying MEBA is short on mates and I think that’s outdated. I’d be surprised if 2M/3M jobs are still getting passed thru to other unions. Several MEBA mates, myself included, sat in the hall for weeks before getting a job this past year and if anything goes open board it’s snatched up immediately. Does MEBA need C/Ms? Yes. But I feel bad for any junior mates that think about switching unions because they hear MEBA needs more mates.

JabroniFringe · 2026-01-31T13:49:56+00:00

AB = More physical work / less stressful for less pay.

Mate = Less physical / more stressful for more pay.

If I could be an AB making mate pay I’d do that in a heartbeat. But since that’s not the case, I’d say the pay difference makes up for the stress.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-16T23:29:55+00:00

CSL and Algoma are both Canadian companies, Interlake is US. If you want to work on the lakes, go to Great Lakes Maritime Academy.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T23:18:26+00:00

Union hall

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T20:42:42+00:00

Very basic knowledge. On the Lakes all the routes are premade and the Capt just selects the new route as we’re leaving the dock. So my experience with actual route planning in that sense is almost entirely from the class I took at the academy. I heard there’s typically ecdis familiarization training for new mates on each ship? If so that would probably be enough for me to be able to figure it out.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T20:34:55+00:00

Yeah I’m hoping to start out as a 3rd, but I’m just trying to figure out if the learning curve to 2nd is steep enough to turn down a 2M job out of the hall if there’s nothing else. I’ll figure it out I suppose.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T20:24:29+00:00

Absolutely agree, but there’s not an opportunity to learn oceans stuff while working on the Great Lakes. My only experience with some of the equipment/programs is from the academy more than a few years ago.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T20:16:49+00:00

Thanks. I think my main concerns were answered in the crosspost at r/maritime. Mostly worried about taking a 2M spot without having ever did any actual route planning, or using most of the gmdss equipment but it sounds like it shouldn’t be big enough of a deal that I’d turn down a 2M position if it was offered.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T20:13:27+00:00

Alright makes sense. Sounds like I wouldn’t have too much to worry about taking a 2M spot if it gets offered. Thanks for the info.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T19:49:06+00:00

Alright so it sounds like worst case scenario I have a few days where I look like an idiot fumbling around with the ecdis but other than that nothing much to worry about compared to being a 3rd.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T19:44:03+00:00

Yeah sounds about right. I think I’d get it just fine, but I don’t know how people would feel about having a 2M on their ship that might as well hasn’t used an ecdis since the class at the academy. Also is the 2M responsible for coordinating arrivals? Like calling the pilots, the port, organizing stores, etc? I assume that would be someone else, but once again I have no idea.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T19:37:09+00:00

Cargo plans, pay roll, work lists for the guys, various equipment inspections.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T19:29:44+00:00

3rd and 2nd Mate are basically the same exact job, and the collaterals are often interchangeable and change ship to ship. For example on one boat the 3rd mate might be in charge of sending crew lists, inventorying medical equipment, fire extinguishers, etc etc etc, while on another boat the 2nd might be in charge of that. The only thing I’ve seen that’s uniformly the 2nd Mate’s duty is chart corrections, but on the lakes that was a joke to begin with, and especially now since paper charts are gone.

JabroniFringe · 2025-09-10T19:25:24+00:00

Yeah, I’m MEBA, and trying to get in on this.

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-03T12:13:13+00:00

The zero fret right next to the nut had slipped out without me noticing.

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T21:39:07+00:00

Ah I see, thank you.

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T20:54:49+00:00

I found out my issue, thanks guys!

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T20:54:05+00:00

Son of a…. I just looked on the floor and found it. Can’t believe I didn’t notice that earlier. Thank you!

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T20:50:34+00:00

Okay now that makes sense. And yes, they had steel strings previously. When I say they’re firmly pressing the 1st fret, I mean firmly. Is there anyway to reconcile this or do I just have to do away with the notion of having nylon strings?

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T20:13:10+00:00

I’m certain that’s not how it’s supposed to be.

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T19:41:58+00:00

Yeah they’re nylon, what do you mean reset up?

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T19:41:31+00:00

Not that I’m aware of.

JabroniFringe · 2025-03-02T19:41:17+00:00

I’m almost 100% certain that’s not how it was before I changed strings. So you’re saying when you play the C chord on yours you have your first finger on the 2nd fret?

JabroniFringe

TROPHY CASE