In container shipping, size matters! Not just for scale, but for which ports a ship can serve, which trade lanes it can ply, how much cargo it can carry, and what cost efficiencies it can achieve. As vessels grew over the decades, the shipping industry adopted size categories (measured in TEU and physical dimensions) to classify container ships. Understanding categories like feeder, Panamax, Neo-Panamax, and ULCV helps shippers and ports align expectations, infrastructure, and strategy.

In the vast world of maritime logistics, not all vessels are built the same. From carrying liquid fuels to heavy machinery, each vessel type is designed to serve a specific purpose and cargo category. Understanding these vessel types helps shippers, freight forwarders, and logistics providers choose the most efficient and cost-effective way to move goods across the world. Let’s explore the main types of cargo vessels and the kinds of cargo they typically carry.