Feeder container ship

A feeder container ship moves boxes between a major transshipment hub and smaller ports, typically carrying 100 to 3,000 TEU. It is the workhorse of the spoke leg in hub-and-spoke liner networks: mainline ships of 12,000 TEU and up concentrate volume at a few deep-water hubs, and feeders distribute it to regional terminals with shorter quays, shallower drafts, and lighter crane outfits. Many feeders are geared so they can self-load at ports lacking shore cranes. Shallow draft, frequent port rotations, and short sea legs distinguish the type from deep-sea tonnage. The segment is the early adopter of methanol and battery-hybrid propulsion because the routes are short and the bunkering points are fixed.