Overflow Container Yard (OCY)
About OCY
OCY is an overflow container yard at Chittagong Port, Bangladesh, operated by SAIF Powertec Limited. It holds 6,000–8,000 TEUs at a time and handles about 350,000 TEUs per annum.
The Overflow Container Yard (OCY), also known as the New Overflow Yard, serves as the safety valve for the Chittagong Port, providing critical backup storage when the main terminal yards, North Container Yard (NCY) and South Container Yard (SCY), reach capacity. As of early 2026, OCY is part of a major expansion project that increased total internal port capacity to 59,000 TEUs. The terminal is owned by Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), a government agency under the Ministry of Shipping. The current operator, SAIF Powertec Limited, is likely to be replaced by DP World.
It is situated within the port-protected area, strategically located near the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and the Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), and is positioned to receive “overflow” containers from these terminals. It typically holds containers awaiting pickup by the consignee or scheduled vessel loading. The OCY has helped minimise congestion on the jetties. In 2025, the port’s average “vessel waiting time” was below 48 hours during peak traffic. It was developed in phases between 2008 and 2012 as part of the port’s master plan to handle the transition from a general cargo port to a world-class container hub.
OCY is also used for containers awaiting complex customs disputes or auctions, for goods that do not belong to the “Fast Track” green channel, and to accommodate surges in RMG exports during peak season.
In 2026, CPA enforced a strict rule preventing OCY from becoming a “parking lot.” All gearless vessels must depart within 48 hours, which forces faster “hook-to-hook” movement and discourages the use of OCY for short-term buffering.
Key figures in detail
- Average Dwell Time: 11–14 days
Equipment
- OCY relies on a mobile equipment fleet rather than fixed gantry cranes to maintain flexibility
- 6–8 Reach Stackers for high-speed selective picking
- 2–4 Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes for high-density block stacking
- Terminal Tractors from the shared NCT/CCT pool
Facilities & infrastructure
- Reinforced, heavy-duty RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) paving designed for 5-high container stacking
- Fully integrated with the Terminal Operating System (TOS). Every container in OCY has a digital coordinate (Slot ID), enabling real-time tracking via the cpatos.gov.bd portal
- 900+ reefer plug points, powered by the port’s 8MW diesel generators to ensure cold-chain integrity for pharmaceuticals and frozen food
- Dedicated entry/exit gates equipped with 100-ton computerised weighbridges to provide VGM (Verified Gross Mass) certification for export containers
- Used to store long-standing containers, freeing premium space at the jetties
Why shippers choose OCY
- Operational resilience, built to absorb spillover volume
- The only yard designed to be “dynamic”—its layout can be reconfigured overnight to prioritise imports or exports depending on the current supply chain bottleneck
- The primary holding area for containers flagged for physical inspection by Customs, preventing them from blocking “Green Channel” cargo
- The Online E-Gate Pass has streamlined truck entry, reducing the time a container sits in the yard waiting for a vehicle
- OCY has been included in RSGTI’s Next-Gen TOS
Frequently asked questions
Who operates OCY?
OCY is owned by the Chittagong Port Authority and operated by SAIF Powertec Limited, which is likely to be replaced by DP World.
What is the capacity of OCY?
It holds 6,000–8,000 TEUs at a time and handles about 350,000 TEUs per annum, at 85–95% utilisation. Average dwell time is 11–14 days.
What is the port code for OCY?
The UN/LOCODE-style port code is BDCGP.
Where is OCY located?
OCY is inside the port-protected area near the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and the Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT).
In the news
Classification
Source: South Asia Container Market Report 2026, p. 70. Last updated Jan 2026.
