Feeder Vessel

A feeder is a small or mid-size container ship — typically 300 to 3,000 TEU — that shuttles containers between regional ports and a major transshipment hub, where cargo connects with the large mother vessels operating intercontinental services.

Feeder networks let carriers serve ports that lack the depth, cranes or volume to justify a direct mainline call. The hub-and-spoke system built on feeders explains why hubs such as Singapore, Algeciras or Tanger Med handle far more containers than their local hinterland generates.