GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
container yard
A container yard is a dedicated facility – typically at a seaport, rail terminal, or inland depot – where shipping containers are temporarily held, tracked, and staged for onward movement.
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Source: https://resources.freightos.com/glossary/container-yard-cy
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Definition & Explanation
A container yard is a dedicated facility – typically at a seaport, rail terminal, or inland depot – where shipping containers are temporarily held, tracked, and staged for onward movement. It is the point where containers transfer between modes: ship to truck or rail, and vice versa. The yard operator maintains records of laden and empty units, arranges damage surveys and repairs, and manages the repositioning of empty boxes back to carriers. Once a container exceeds the agreed free time, storage charges apply: demurrage generally refers to the carrier's charge for detaining the container beyond the free period, while detention covers the use of the container itself outside the terminal; definitions vary by carrier and contract.
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