Container freight station
CFS
A container freight station is a facility where cargo is stuffed into or stripped from containers. Cargo is held there under customs control pending clearance.
What it is
A container freight station, or CFS, is a warehouse and yard, on or near a port, where containers are stuffed and destuffed and where cargo waits for customs clearance. Less than container load cargo from several shippers is consolidated into one container at an origin CFS, and deconsolidated at a destination CFS so each consignee can collect its own consignment.
How it works in practice
On imports, a container is moved from the terminal to the CFS named by the carrier, consolidator or importer. Customs examination and release take place there, after which cargo is delivered loose or the container leaves for the consignee's premises. The CFS charges for handling, storage and related services under its own tariff. Some ports allow direct port delivery, where approved importers take containers from the terminal without passing through a CFS.
Why it matters
The choice of CFS affects cost and timing for the consignee, and equipment control for the carrier. The line or NVOCC needs to know which CFS holds each container, when it was destuffed, and when the empty moved to the yard. Delivery orders are addressed to the CFS, so a wrong or changed nomination means reissuing paperwork while storage charges continue to accrue.
In Sailix
How Sailix handles it
Sailix keeps CFSs as reference records linked to a port, with their locations, and a branch can be assigned the CFSs it works with. Release requests and container drops refer to them, a delivery order records CFS, ICD or direct port delivery, and the CFS / ICD / DPD report groups discharged containers by delivery destination.
- Delivery orderIssue import delivery orders behind discharge, payment and detention checks, then extend validity with detention billed.
- Release orderRaise a release request against a booking and download the container release order for the yard as a PDF letter or an Excel workbook.
- Reports and analyticsRegisters, stock and voyage reports, financial statements and an analytics dashboard, with Excel and PDF output.
Related terms
- Inland container depotAn inland container depot is a customs-notified facility away from the seaport. Containers are handled, stored and cleared there for import or export.
- Delivery orderA delivery order is the carrier's or agent's instruction to release cargo or containers to the consignee. It is addressed to the terminal, depot or CFS and names the consignee or its agent.
- DemurrageDemurrage is a charge for a container or cargo left inside the port or terminal beyond free time. It applies before pickup on import or loading on export.
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