Yards inside and outside the terminal
Most container yards sit inside a marine terminal, next to the berths. Carriers also use off-dock yards and empty depots nearby, mainly for empty storage and repairs, and some ports send overflow imports there in busy periods. Inland, rail ramps and dry ports keep yards of their own. The yard named for a pickup or return matters, because each one has its own gates, hours and rules.
CY in booking and delivery terms
On a booking or bill of lading, CY describes where the carrier's responsibility starts or ends for a full container load. A CY to CY move runs from yard to yard, and the merchant arranges trucking at both ends. Door terms mean the carrier arranges a truck move to or from an address instead. The term on the booking decides who arranges and pays for each truck move, so confirm it before quoting a delivered price.
- CY to CY: port yard to port yard for FCL
- CY to door: the carrier trucks the box to the consignee
- CY cut-off: last moment to deliver a full export box
Stacks, wheels and retrieval time
Inside a yard, containers are either stacked on the ground or, at some U.S. facilities, parked on chassis. In a stacked yard, a box buried under others takes longer to dig out, which can slow pickups when yards are full. Many terminals group containers by vessel, line or status to cut down on unproductive moves. Wheeled storage takes more space but lets a driver hook up and leave without waiting for yard equipment.
Example
A booking quoted CY to CY from Busan to Long Beach means the shipper delivers the full container to the carrier's yard in Busan and the consignee collects it from the yard at Long Beach.
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Questions
What does Container Yard (CY) mean?
A container yard (CY) is a paved area where containers are stacked while they wait to be loaded on a ship, picked up or returned. In booking terms, CY also marks the point where the carrier receives or hands over a full container.
What is the difference between a CY and a CFS?
A CY handles full containers that stay sealed until they reach the consignee. A CFS is a warehouse where cargo is packed into or unpacked from containers, usually for LCL shipments.
What does CY cut-off mean?
It is the deadline for delivering a full export container to the terminal or yard for a given sailing. Boxes that arrive after it can be rolled to the next vessel.