Feeder
By Feeder we mean cargo ships that are used as suppliers, or distributors, of large seagoing vessels or seaports.
Brief description
Feeder ships are used when large container ships are uneconomical, or the infrastructure framework conditions do not suit container ships. They serve as suppliers and distributors in smaller seaports, as their loading and unloading can also take place in ports without operable container bridges. Transshipment of containers from Feeder to ocean-going vessels, or the other way around, occurs in Europe at international ports such as Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Trieste, for example.
These types of vessels have capacities ranging from a few hundred to more than 1,000 standard containers (TEUs), and will be used where, for example, the draft for ocean-going vessels is no longer sufficient, or the number of harbors is limited. Feeder ships are also used where cargo needs to be transshipped from or to small river or coastal ports that have no direct connection to international waterway trade routes. For economic reasons, they are also used in ports where overseas container ships do not enter due to the small number of TEU`s.