The empty container operation of the container terminal is mainly divided into two parts: empty container entry and exit operation and empty container management.

1、 Empty container mobilization operation. There are two ways to approach empty containers at the wharf: empty container unloading and empty container entering through the inspection port. Before the empty container unloading ship enters the site, the dock yard planner must arrange the empty container storage plan. The principle of the plan arrangement is that empty containers are stored separately by different holders according to different sizes and types of containers. The dock and the ship must handle the equipment handover form formalities when unloading the containers.

There are two main types of empty containers entering through the inspection port. One is the empty container designated by the shipping company for export shipment, and the other is the imported heavy container which is returned to the wharf after unpacking. If the container is designated by the shipping company, it shall be stacked according to the name and voyage of the export ship according to the storage plan made by the yard planner and different sizes and types of containers; If the imported containers are returned to the wharf yard after unpacking, they shall be stacked separately according to the difference between the storage plan made by the yard planner and the container holder. When empty containers enter the inspection port, the dock inspection port and the carrier must go through the formalities of delivery.

2、 Empty box exit operation. There are two main ways for empty containers to leave the dock, namely, empty containers are shipped out and empty containers are sent out through the inspection port.

There are two main types of empty containers shipped out, one is the empty container designated by the shipping company for export shipment, and the other is the empty container loaded on the barge. The terminal container service administrator shall arrange the shipping container plan according to the work contact list issued by the agent, the empty container shipping list or the "export shipping container instruction" provided by the shipping company. According to the container use plan of the container manager and the "station receipt" provided by the agent, the dock stowage planner selects all or part of the planned empty containers for ship allocation in combination with the ship name and voyage stowage. For empty containers that cannot be loaded on the ship's voyage, the container manager shall make records for the next voyage.

There are three main types of empty containers leaving the inspection port:

(1) The door-to-door lifting of empty containers is mainly the lifting of empty containers for export cargo. After the empty container is transported to the container point for packing, the heavy container is returned to the wharf for shipment and export. When the empty container door/door is lifted out of the port area, the cargo owner or inland carrier shall submit a written application to the container agent. The container agent shall issue the "Exit Container Equipment Handover Sheet" and "Entry Container Equipment Handover Sheet" to the cargo owner or inland carrier according to the "Export Container Preallocation List". The cargo owner or inland carrier shall pick up empty containers from the terminal yard with the delivery of outbound container equipment.

(2) Single empty container means to transport empty containers to the container yard (CY) outside the terminal. For example, the shipping company carries empty containers to the storage yard outside the port and returns the leased containers. The terminal container service administrator shall deliver the container according to the "empty container transportation contact list" issued by the shipping company or its agent. The contact list shall generally indicate the container holder, carrier fleet, flow direction, etc., and indicate the settlement method of expenses.

(3) Empty containers need to be brought to the dock due to inspection, repair, cleaning, fumigation, transfer and other reasons. The freight forwarder or inland carrier shall submit a written application to the container agent. The container agent shall issue the "Exit Container Equipment Handover Sheet" and "Entry Container Equipment Handover Sheet" to the freight forwarder or inland carrier according to the entrustment relationship or relevant agreements. The cargo party or inland carrier shall pick up empty containers from the terminal yard with the "Exit Container Equipment Handover Sheet", and the terminal shall deliver the containers with the agent's work contact sheet. When empty containers leave the site, the terminal shall complete the container equipment handover form and handover procedures with the ship or carrier.