A Container Yard, or CY, is a designated area where shipping containers are stored, staged, received, released, and transferred between transport modes. CYs are commonly located at ports, rail terminals, inland depots, or container facilities and may handle both loaded and empty containers. In ocean freight, the container yard is important for FCL shipments because it serves as the handoff point for export gate-in, import pickup, equipment return, and container tracking before or after vessel movement.
CY as a Shipping Term
- CY to CY: carrier responsibility from origin container yard to destination container yard
- CY to CFS: carrier responsible from origin yard to destination CFS for LCL delivery
- CFS to CY: carrier responsible from origin CFS consolidation to destination container yard
CY cutoff is the deadline for delivering a full container to the terminal before vessel departure. Part of a yard or terminal may be kept as a closed area, where access and cargo movement are restricted by customs, security, or safety rules.
Learn more about Dedola’s ocean freight shipping services. Related terms: Drayage, Chassis.
