A mother vessel, in shipping and logistics, is a large-sized vessel that is larger in size and capacity than a feeder vessel. It is primarily used for transporting goods between major ports rather than smaller or secondary ports. Mother vessels, such as container ships, have a significantly higher carrying capacity, often numbering in the thousands of containers. Due to their size and capacity, mother vessels typically visit and operate exclusively at main ports, which have the infrastructure to accommodate their large size. These vessels are designed for long-distance travel, covering extensive routes compared to feeder ships, enabling them to transport goods across significant distances efficiently.