Feedermax

A feedermax is the largest feeder class, about 2,000 to 3,000 TEU, sitting between the small container feeder and the Panamax box ship. It runs intra-regional and short-sea routes, relaying containers from deep-sea hubs to ports too small for mainline calls. Many feedermax units are geared with two or three cranes so they can work cargo at terminals without shore gantries, which is the practical advantage over a larger gearless ship. Drafts stay modest, around 10 to 12 meters, to reach shallow regional ports. The class is a heavy buyer of new low-carbon designs, including methanol dual-fuel feeders, because the fixed short-haul routes make alternative-fuel bunkering manageable.