Hello all, I’m making a change and semi basing myself overseas, to where it would be most convenient to me to join a union and hit the halls on the west coast, or, frankly, Honolulu might be more convenient for me for the time being. Can anyone give me the breakdown of deck side work that sails out of those parts, specifically between meba and mmp? Roro, box boats, who has got more going on on the Pacific side? I should have my chief mate in hand shortly but I’d like to at least do a little time as a second or third to get my bearings, and I don’t have my PIC so I’m not too focused on tankers at the monent. Thanks in advance!
Better is subjective.
But here’s the breakdown of companies sailing on the west coast for each. I’ll list pasha and matson for MMP but keep in mind the chances of you getting on those vessels as an applicant or anything but an A book is slim to none. Also keep in mind that MMP has no permanent junior officers while MEBA does.
MMP
- Pasha
- Matson
- APL
- Waterman steamship/ Seacor roros
- Patriot LMSR and tankers
- SLNC
- 1 mearsk containership starting in Feb
MEBA
- hapaq Lloyd containerships starting in Feb*
- Liberty roros
*******there’s an MMP - MEBA passthrough so there are some MMP mates working on express ships right now but it’s ending in October 2025.
If the Army continues to move forward with 6 of the Watson class ships going ROS, there will be a significant influx of junior mates competing for Work with MMP.
When the 4 container ships swap to MEBA deck officers next year there will be lots of opportunities with MEBA.
What do you have for a license? Do you have any government training?
I believe the meeting packet had the October date wrong, pass thru MOU terminates in May. Jason didn’t have an explanation when I asked about this at the meeting.
I looked at the passthrough agreement awhile ago and I am almost positive it did expire in October 2025. The agreement expiring in May- that’s the first I’ve heard.
Not as much as people think.
There are quite a few MEBA mates already lining up / lined up/ waiting for the jobs on the express vessels. And there’s been quite a few mates that have joined the MEBA recently.