CY (Container Yard)

TL;DR: A CY is the open area at or near a port where containers wait before being loaded onto a vessel or after being unloaded. FCL containers are normally delivered to and collected from the CY.

In an FCL shipment, the shipper packs and seals the container at the factory, then a truck delivers it to the CY before the CY cut-off. After arrival at the destination port, the container is discharged and stored in the CY until the buyer’s trucker collects it. Empty containers are also picked up from and returned to depots or yards.

You will often see CY/CY on a booking or bill of lading. It means the carrier takes responsibility from the origin container yard to the destination container yard. Packing at origin and unpacking at destination are the shipper’s and consignee’s concern. Other combinations exist, such as CY/CFS or CFS/CY, depending on where the cargo is handled.

Time in the CY is not unlimited. Once the free days end, demurrage charges can apply for full containers left at the terminal. At busy South China ports like Nansha and Yantian, deliver to the CY in good time to avoid rushed trucking or a missed vessel.

For heavy loads such as glass mosaic, confirm the gross weight before the truck leaves the factory, since the CY will weigh or check the VGM. Compare with CFS (Container Freight Station).