A Federation supply ship was a type of starship employed by the United Federation of Planets. In the mid-23rd century, supply ships were responsible for saving the colony on Tarsus IV. They were earlier than expected in saving the colony, but were too late to save the 4,000 people Kodos had murdered in his attempt to save the colony from starvation. (TOS: "The Conscience of the King" ) In 2367, Paul Hickman's stolen Type 7 shuttlecraft, on a course toward Tarchannen III, was spotted by a Federation supply ship roughly 24 hours before stardate 44664.5. (TNG: "Identity Crisis" )