CY and CFS are terms that are used in the shipping industry, particularly in relation to the transportation of goods by container.

Container Yard – CY

CY stands for container yard, and refers to the area within a port, container terminal, or dry port where shipping containers are stored. Containers may be stored in the container yard before they are loaded onto a ship, or after they have been unloaded from a ship that has arrived in port.

Container Freight Station – CFS

CFS stands for container freight station, and refers to a warehouse where goods belonging to multiple shippers are grouped together. This is typically used when shipping goods as a less than container load (LCL) shipment. The goods are delivered to the CFS, where they are packed into a shipping container with other LCL shipments. The container is then sent to the destination port, where the process is reversed.

CY/CY Shipments

When you are looking at a bill of lading, you may see something that calls out a port with a /CY after it and then another port with a /CY after it. What this is showing you is that exactly what your responsibilities are as a shipper.
The first port of call is the one where you are going to need to deliver your fully packed and ready cargo container. The container will be delivered to the container yard at the leaving port and it is up to you, the shipper, to deliver it there.
The second port is, of course, the one that the cargo will be arriving. Again, this is telling you that your shipping line will deliver the container to the container yard at the arriving port, and then it is up to you or your customer to go and pick it up from there.

CFS/CFS Shipments

This is similar to CY shipments, but instead of delivering a fully ready to go container, you are sending your goods there to be grouped up for an LCL shipment. The usage is the same, even to the letters are different. In this case, your shipment will be packed up at the CFS in the departing port and will then be unloaded at the CFS of the arrival port.

Mixed Shipments

It should be noted that there can be CY/CFS and CFS/CY shipments as well. Of course, this would be a mixing of the two different types of LCL and full container shipping. Whatever type of industrial shipping you need done, the product must be packed correctly to avoid damage.

When you see a port listed on a bill of lading with /CY or /CFS after it, this indicates the responsibilities of the shipper and consignee in relation to the container yard or container freight station at that port. For example, CY/CY indicates that the shipper is responsible for delivering the container to the container yard at the departing port, and the consignee is responsible for picking it up from the container yard at the destination port. CFS/CFS indicates that the goods will be packed into a container at the CFS at the departing port and will be unloaded at the CFS at the destination port.

In summary, CY and CFS are terms used to describe the storage and handling of shipping containers and the goods they contain in the shipping industry. Understanding these terms is important for ensuring that your goods are handled correctly and efficiently.