Views: 778 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-09-07 Origin: Site
What is the difference between CFS and ICD？Let's explain it in detail in terms of meaning and function.
Table of contents:
Container Freight Station (CFS) is a warehouse station that is responsible for the LCL or unpacking of products/cargoes before they are imported or exported. Participate in the import and export process at both origin and destination. In simple terms, a warehouse where goods are stored before loading and after unloading.
For LCL, where the goods belong to multiple customers, the goods are loaded in a container and brought to CFS for consolidation before the goods are sent to the final destination.
Its warehouses are close to ports or shipping terminals. The freight station is also responsible for the customs clearance process and documentation for its cargo. This is a customs notification area and all transactions are processed through customs certification. The Customs Agent (CHA) is the main link between the container freight station and the parties to the transaction.
· Receive and send goods
· LCL and unpacking of goods (for LCL shipments)
· Loading of export containers and unpacking or pickup of import containers
· Temporary storage of cargo and full or empty containers, and continued transit or re-export
· Rail/road transit to and from the port
· Customs clearance inspection of imported and exported goods
· Tracking systems for locating containers or cargo
ICD or Container Yard (CY) is also a transit facility like CFS. However, ICDs are mostly located inland, and CFSs are customs areas close to ports. The ICD can operate as a separate entity and the CFS is part of the customs jurisdiction. Bonded warehouses store goods that have undergone customs clearance procedures. On the other hand, goods shipped to CFS must go through customs inspection and clearance. Container yard (CY) in shipping is a dedicated address in a port where FCL containers are transported and stored before being loaded onto a ship. Although CFS has the same function, Container Freight Station (CFS) only handles cargo in LCL, not FCL.
Inland Container Depot, also known as ICDs, are dry ports equipped for handling and temporary storage of containerized cargo as well as empties. This means that hinterland customers can receive port services more conveniently closer to their premises.
· Inland container depot provide customs clearance and other import and export procedures, etc. After the goods are cleared at the ICD, they can be exported for customs clearance.
· ICD reduces the overall transportation of empty containers by providing consolidation facilities for inland LCL shipments.
· ICD ensures that the cost of exporting and importing goods remains competitive by providing all facilities inland.
· ICD helps increase a country's exports by building feeder infrastructure for ports.
· ICDs help unblock important port spaces.
ICD and CFS perform many similar operations, but they are two different entities. CFS is located near the port, Mainly deal with LCL cargo, because LCL service is required. CFS was established to relieve congestion and free up space in ports. ICDs are generally far from ports, connect the port with the inland. All customs-related services provided by the port, also available on ICD, as well as the transportation and storage of goods.
Inland Container Depot (ICD) | Container Freight Station (CFS) |
| ICD is a customs station where loaders are used to load and unload goods | CFS is a custom zone that is an extension of the port terminal repository |
| ICD helps importers/exporters to handle their shipments close to factories and warehouses and have an independent presence | CFS is part of the customs station and does not have any independent existence |
| ICDs are usually inland | CFS mostly close to ports |
| Entry slips, shipping slips and other documents take place at the ICD. Shippers also use it for cargo assessment and customs clearance, warehousing, temporary storage, etc. | Only part of the customs process i.e. cargo inspection is carried out at CFS |
The time of entering the ICD is regarded as the time of entering the port. The shipping company takes the time when the container enters the ICD as the time of entry. The EDI entry time sent by the terminal to the shipping company is the ICD entry time. Customs and shipping company stowage process will not change, The time when the container arrives and is reported to be sent to the customs is still subject to the actual container collection time at the terminal. And as the basis for customs clearance and shipping company stowage.
When shipping to the ICD, the customer should leave the real and effective contact information, so that the ICD will notify in time when the inspection is encountered. Remind the driver to reserve real and effective contact information to prevent the situation that the customer cannot be notified immediately for inspection, and the inspection process remains unchanged.
