North Container Yard (NCY)
About NCY
NCY is the main container yard behind the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port, Bangladesh, operated by Saif Powertec Limited. It holds 8,000–10,000 TEUs at a time and handles 165,000–185,000 TEUs.
The North Container Yard (NCY) is one of the most critical landside infrastructure components of the Chittagong Port, serving as the primary logistics backbone for the high-efficiency New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). It was developed in the mid-to-late 2000s. As of the latest 2025 expansion, NCY contributes significantly to the port’s total internal storage capacity of 59,000 TEUs. NCY is the busiest yard in the port because it serves the NCT, which handles roughly 1.5 million TEUs annually.
NCY is located at the northern end of the Chittagong Port complex, situated directly behind the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). It is strategically placed near the main port gates to facilitate the rapid movement of trucks and trailers between the jetties and the inland transport network.
The yard is strictly dedicated to containerised cargo, specifically high-priority FCL import containers awaiting clearance or transfer to off-docks, and pre-staged containers ready for loading onto vessels at the NCT berths. During “vessel surges”, utilisation has frequently exceeded 95%.
In the context of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and its container terminals, North Container Yard 2 (NCY2) is a logistical designation for a sub-section of the North Container Yard. While the general yard is known as NCY, it is operationally divided into zones for the Terminal Operating System (TOS). NCY2 refers to the modernised extension, or block 2, of the North Yard.
Key figures in detail
- Stacking Height: 4 to 5 high
- Dwell time of containers: 9.44 days
Equipment
- 15–18 Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes
- 10–12 Reach Stackers
- 45–50 Terminal Tractors / Prime Movers
- 4–6 Empty Handlers
- 8–10 Forklifts
Facilities & infrastructure
- A computerised road-vehicle weighbridge (30T–100T) monitors the weights of containers entering and leaving the facility
- 900 reefer plug points
- Designed to hold approximately 8,000 to 10,000 TEUs at any given time
Why shippers choose NCY
- NCY is physically and digitally tethered to the NCT. Containers move from the ship’s hook at NCT directly to a pre-assigned digital slot in NCY within minutes, the fastest internal transit time in the port
- The highest concentration of Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes and Straddle Carriers in the port, allowing stacking up to 5 high
- The official “VGM (Verified Gross Mass) Gateway”: every export container passing through NCY is weighed and its data automatically uploaded to the TOS
- As of 2026, NCY is the pilot site for Data-Driven Yard Optimisation, pre-stacking containers based on the vessel’s loading plan
- The preferred yard for high-value pharmaceuticals and frozen food because of its stable, uninterrupted power supply
Frequently asked questions
Who operates NCY?
NCY is operated by Saif Powertec Limited for the Chittagong Port Authority.
What is the capacity of NCY?
It holds 8,000–10,000 TEUs at a time and handles 165,000–185,000 TEUs, at 75–85% utilisation. Average dwell time is 9.44 days.
What is the port code for NCY?
The UN/LOCODE-style port code is BDCGP.
Where is NCY located?
NCY is at the northern end of the Chittagong Port complex, directly behind the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
In the news
Classification
Source: South Asia Container Market Report 2026, p. 69. Last updated Jan 2026.
