Container Yard (CY)

Container Yard (CY) is a facility at a container terminal or inland container transshipment station used for the handover, storage, and safekeeping of containers. It typically operates in conjunction with the terminal front (berth) and is responsible for the loading, unloading, stacking, and transfer of containers. In foreign trade and ocean shipping, CY is a critical node for container handover, commonly seen in "CY-CY" terms, whereby the carrier receives goods at the CY of the port of loading and delivers goods at the CY of the port of discharge. Usage scenarios include: the exporter delivers the container to the designated CY, and the carrier is responsible for loading it onto the vessel; the importer picks up the container at the CY of the destination port. Precautions: CY differs from "Container Freight Station (CFS)" — CFS is used for the stuffing and stripping of LCL cargo, while CY primarily handles FCL cargo; CY charges may include storage fees, loading/unloading fees, etc., which must be clearly specified in the contract; furthermore, the difference between CY and "Door" terms lies in the fact that CY involves handover at a port or inland container yard, whereas Door involves door pickup or delivery. Foreign trade practitioners should accurately understand the division of responsibilities and cost bearing under CY to avoid disputes arising from unclear handover locations.