Difference between ICD, On Dock CY and Off Dock CY

1) Inland Container Depot, abbreviated to ICD is a dry port based in the hinterland of a country (inland area of a country away from the coast or major rivers) and is equipped to handle full and empty containers..

Containers are moved from the ship to the ICD and vice versa using rail and road networks.. An ICD is recognised by customs and port authorities as an extension of the sea port and customs officials are present in many ICDs..

Customers who are based in the hinterland receive cargoes at ICDs just like the customers based in coastal areas receive cargoes at the seaport.. Customers at ICDs undergo similar customs processes, inspections etc like the coastal areas before receiving delivery of the container.. 

A typical container movement flow to an ICD is as below..

2) On Dock CY refers to a Container Yard that is situated within the port area.. Containers are off loaded from the ship and moved to the On Dock CY using straddle carriers or trucks and stored there till the receiver takes delivery of the cargo..

A typical container movement flow to an On Dock CY is as below..

Owing to the geographical location however, storage costs are generally high at an On Dock CY and therefore in some ports the full and empty containers cannot be stored at the On Dock CY without incurring exorbitant storage charges.. To avoid such high costs the shipping line will move the containers (on receiver’s account and risk for full containers) to a nominated Off Dock CY (ODCY) from where the receivers can take delivery..

3) Off Dock CY refers to a CY that is situated outside of the port premises but not necessarily inland and this is the slight difference between ICD and Off Dock CY.. An ICD maybe termed as an Off Dock CY, but not all Off Dock CYs are ICDs.. An off dock CY is closer to the port than an ICD..

An Off Dock CY can be considered as an extension of the port subject to customs supervision and control and to be treated like a container terminal inside the port in all aspects and subject to whatever additional requirements, rules and conditions which may be imposed by the Customs authorities of the country..

Traditionally, an Off Dock CY handles only Full Container Load (FCL) and a similar facility handling Less than Container Load (LCL) is termed as Container Freight Station (CFS)..

A typical container movement flow to an Off Dock CY is as below..

An Off Dock CY and/or ICD is different from an On Dock CY mainly in terms of the geographical location, size of operation and type of handling equipment used, but all may be functionally similar..