GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Feeder
A feeder vessel is a small-to-medium container ship that connects regional and secondary ports to a major hub terminal, where cargo is transhipped onto deep-sea mainline vessels for long-haul routes.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feeder_vessel
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Definition & Explanation
A feeder vessel is a small-to-medium container ship that connects regional and secondary ports to a major hub terminal, where cargo is transhipped onto deep-sea mainline vessels for long-haul routes. Shipping lines deploy feeders to extend their network into ports that lack the draught, infrastructure, or cargo volume to justify a direct mainline call. Feeder capacity typically ranges from a few hundred to around 3,000 TEU. Well-known feeder trades include Baltic Sea services linking ports such as Riga or Gdańsk to hub terminals like Hamburg or Rotterdam, and intra-Asia services funnelling cargo onto trans-Pacific mainlines. For freight forwarders, feeder schedules must be factored into transit time planning, as transhipment at the hub adds port waiting time and connection cut-offs.
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