CYPorts & Terminals

Container Yard

Definition: A designated storage and interchange facility inside a port or inland terminal where full container loads (FCL) are staged for vessel loading or consignee pickup.

Detailed Freight Guide & Operational Context

A Container Yard (CY) is a secure, heavy-duty paved facility inside a port terminal or off-dock depot dedicated to stacking, inspecting, and transferring full shipping containers.

In contract terms (CY/CY), it denotes that the ocean carrier takes custody of the full container at the origin port container yard and releases it to the consignee at the destination port container yard without unpacking.

CY operations rely on specialized heavy container handling equipment including rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes, reach stackers, and straddle carriers.

Real-World Example in Practice

A booking marked 'CY/CY' requires the exporter to deliver a packed and sealed container directly to the terminal container yard before the vessel closing cutoff.

Frequently Asked Questions about CY

What does CY/CY mean in shipping?

CY/CY means Container Yard to Container Yard, signifying that the carrier transports an intact full container from the origin terminal yard to the destination terminal yard.

What is the difference between CY and CFS?

A CY (Container Yard) handles intact full container loads (FCL); a CFS (Container Freight Station) handles consolidation and deconsolidation of individual LCL cargo boxes.

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Related Shipping Terms

Container Freight Station

CFS

Full Container Load

FCL

Less than Container Load

LCL

Terminal Handling Charge

THC

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