Feeder

What is a Feeder?

A feeder is a smaller ship used in container shipping to move containers between regional ports and major transhipment hubs. It connects smaller ports to global shipping networks by transferring cargo to and from mainline ocean-going vessels that operate long-haul routes, supporting consolidation and redistribution where direct mainline calls are not available. 

Feeder services run on scheduled routes, collecting containers from smaller ports and moving them to hub ports for onward loading (and returning inbound cargo the same way), with close coordination needed to align schedules and minimise transfer delays. They are commonly used when cargo volumes, port infrastructure, or network design make direct mainline calls impractical. They are also used to maintain frequency and coverage across smaller markets while relying on hubs for long-haul connections.

Feeder vs. Mainline Vessel

Mainline vessels run long-haul services between major global ports, while feeder vessels operate on regional routes and connect smaller ports to hub ports. Because feeder ships are smaller and more flexible, they can serve ports that may not handle larger vessels or do not have enough volume for direct mainline calls. In practice, feeder schedules are closely tied to mainline arrival and departure windows, making timing and coordination at transhipment hubs critical.