Feeder Container Ship
Small container ships (1,000-3,000 TEU) that ferry containers between regional ports and main hub-port hubs served by ULCVs.
In practice
Coastal container service between deep-sea hub ports and regional harbours. Typical feeder run is 24-72 hours port-to-port.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A feeder is a small container ship, broadly in the 1,000 to 3,000 TEU range, that carries boxes between a major hub port and the smaller regional ports that the largest mainline ships do not call at. Feeders are frequently time-chartered by the mainline operators (such as Maersk or MSC) to collect and distribute containers around a hub, and many are geared with their own cranes so they can work ports that lack ship-to-shore gantries. The smallest such ships, below about 1,000 TEU, are usually called feedermax or small feeders.
Related
Source: Industry usage; Alphaliner monthly report
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