CFS vs ICD: Container Freight Station and Inland Container Depot

Two acronyms cause a lot of confusion for importers: CFS and ICD. Both are places containers go for clearance and handling, but they sit in different parts of the journey. Here's the distinction.

What a CFS is

A Container Freight Station is a licensed facility that operates as an extension of the Port of Mombasa, where containers are received, stored, examined and released near the coast. We cover these in detail in what is a CFS and how it works.

What an ICD is

An Inland Container Depot is a container facility located away from the coast. The Kenya Ports Authority operates inland container depots in Nairobi and Naivasha, which allow some containers to be moved inland for clearance rather than being cleared at the coast.

The main difference

In short, a CFS is a coastal facility linked to the Port of Mombasa, while an ICD brings container handling and clearance closer to inland markets. Which one your container goes through depends on how the shipment is routed. Your shipping line and clearing agent will confirm.

What it means for transport

Either way, at some point the container needs to move by road to its final destination: a warehouse, factory or site. That road leg is what we handle, whether the container is collected from a CFS in Mombasa or delivered onward from an inland depot. For the wider journey, see what happens to a container after it leaves the port.

Need a container moved to or from a Mombasa CFS? See our container and CFS transport services or get a quote.