What is an FEU?
A Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) is a standard measure used in the shipping industry to quantify cargo capacity. One FEU represents the space occupied by a standard forty-foot long shipping container. This measurement is crucial in the world of freight and logistics, as it provides a uniform metric to calculate and compare cargo volumes across different modes of transportation.
The concept of an FEU is pivotal in understanding how freight is measured and charged in the shipping industry. Typically, a forty-foot container is double the size of a Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU), another key term in freight logistics. While a TEU is a measure of cargo capacity equivalent to a twenty-foot container, an FEU is essentially two TEUs. This simplifies the calculation of cargo space, especially for larger shipments.
FEUs are widely used in the shipping industry, particularly in the context of container shipping. They are integral to understanding freight rates, vessel capacity, and port throughput. By standardizing container sizes, FEUs facilitate efficient stacking, handling, and transporting of goods worldwide.
In terms of dimensions, a standard FEU is approximately 40 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8.5 feet in height. However, there are variations in size, such as high-cube containers which offer additional height for cargo. Despite these variations, the FEU remains a fundamental unit in the global shipping industry.
Related Freight Glossary Terms
- Container
- Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU)
- Full Container Load (FCL)