Not every container depot can do the same job. The types of container depots around Johannesburg range from yards that only handle empty boxes to facilities licensed by SARS to hold, unpack and examine containers that have not yet been cleared, and sending a container to the wrong type costs time and money.
The confusion is understandable. Shipping lines, freight forwarders and transporters use “depot” loosely, and many facilities offer more than one service on the same site. What matters is what each site is licensed and equipped to do.
This guide explains the main types of container depot in Gauteng, how the customs licence changes what a depot may handle, and how to match your container to the right facility.
What Is a Container Depot?
A container depot is an off-port facility where shipping containers are stored, handled, packed, unpacked, inspected or repaired. Inland depots let importers, exporters and shipping lines keep containers moving without bringing every box back to the port or into a customer’s yard.
In Gauteng, most depots sit around Transnet’s City Deep terminal in Johannesburg and the nearby industrial areas of Germiston and Ekurhuleni, close to the end of the Durban road and rail corridor.
What Types of Container Depots Are There in Gauteng?
| Type | What it handles | Customs status | Typical user |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland container terminal | Transfers between rail and road; short-term storage | Cleared and uncleared, under terminal rules | Shipping lines, transporters |
| Empty container depot | Receiving, inspecting, cleaning and issuing empty containers | Not applicable | Shipping lines, transporters returning empties |
| Laden depot or container freight station | Full containers; packing, unpacking, consolidation | Cleared cargo, unless also customs-licensed | Importers, exporters, forwarders |
| SARS-licensed container depot | Storing, detaining, unpacking and examining containers under customs control | Uncleared and cleared | Importers, clearing agents, SARS |
| Degrouping depot | Consolidated air cargo only | Uncleared air cargo | Air freight forwarders |
Empty container depots
Shipping lines nominate specific depots where their empty containers must be returned and from which empties are issued for exports. The depot inspects each container, records damage, and may clean or repair it. Returning an empty to a depot the line has not nominated can lead to extra charges, as our guide to empty container return in Johannesburg explains.
Laden depots and container freight stations
Laden depots handle full containers. They unpack imports, pack exports, consolidate part loads and store cargo until it is delivered. They need loading docks, forklifts that can reach into a container, and staff who can tally and record cargo. Our guide to container unpacking in Johannesburg describes the process.
Customs-licensed container depots
A container depot licensed under section 6(1)(hB) of the Customs and Excise Act may store, detain, unpack and examine containers and their contents while they are under customs control, deliver them after entry, and pack containers for export. Degrouping depots, licensed under section 6(1)(hC), handle consolidated air cargo only (SARS: Depots).
Why Does the Customs Licence Matter?
An uncleared container may only be kept at a place approved by SARS. Container depots may only be established at the places listed in Rule 200.08, which include Germiston and Johannesburg (SARS Schedule to the Customs and Excise Rules), and the operator must lodge security with SARS and register for electronic cargo reporting.
In practice, that means a container stopped for examination, or one that lands before its paperwork is ready, cannot go to an ordinary yard. It needs a licensed depot and a licensed carrier to move it there under bond.
How Do You Match Your Container to the Right Depot?
- Uncleared or stopped by customs: a SARS-licensed container depot.
- Empty and ready to return: the depot your shipping line has nominated.
- Full, and your site cannot offload it: a laden depot that can unpack and deliver.
- Refrigerated: a depot with reefer plug points, monitoring and pre-trip inspection.
- For export: a depot that can pack, secure and weigh the container for SOLAS verified gross mass.
- Hazardous cargo: a depot approved to store dangerous goods.
What Should You Ask a Container Depot Before Using It?
- Which licences do you hold, and for what?
- How far are you from City Deep and from my premises?
- What handling equipment do you have for full, empty and heavy containers?
- What are your gate hours, and how long does a truck typically spend on site?
- How will I receive status updates and stock reports?
- Which shipping lines nominate you as an empty depot?
- Can you repair containers, power reefers and handle dangerous goods?
If you specifically need a customs-licensed facility, our guide to what to look for in a customs-licensed container depot in Gauteng goes further.
Where Does Shipping & General’s Depot Fit?
Our Germiston depot, about 5 km from City Deep, combines several depot types on one 65,000 m² site. It has been licensed by SARS as a container depot since 2015, is a nominated empty turn-in station for CMA CGM, Evergreen, Ignazio Messina and ZIM, and packs and unpacks containers, including breakbulk and out-of-gauge cargo.
The site also handles customs examinations, container repairs to IICL standard, reefer plug points and hazchem storage, and our value-added services include a PPECB-certified reefer workshop and a 22 m SOLAS weighbridge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Container Depots
What is the difference between an empty depot and a laden depot?
An empty depot receives, inspects and issues empty containers for shipping lines. A laden depot handles full containers, including packing, unpacking and storing the cargo.
Can any depot store an uncleared container?
No. Uncleared containers must be kept at a place approved by SARS, such as a container depot licensed under section 6(1)(hB) of the Customs and Excise Act.
What is an inland container depot?
It is a general term for a container facility away from the port. In Gauteng it covers both Transnet’s City Deep terminal and private depots in the surrounding industrial areas.
Where do I return an empty container in Johannesburg?
To the depot your shipping line has nominated for that container type. Check the line’s release or return instructions before the truck leaves.
Can one depot offer more than one service?
Yes. Many depots combine empty handling, packing and unpacking, and customs-licensed storage on one site, which saves a truck trip between facilities.
Not Sure Which Depot Your Container Needs?
Send us the container number, its customs status and what needs to happen to it, and we will tell you whether our Germiston depot can handle it and what it will cost.
One site for storage, unpacking, examinations and empty returns keeps your containers moving.