Inland customs depot

An inland customs depot (ICD), also called a dry port, is a customs-approved facility away from a seaport or airport where import and export goods can be examined, cleared, stuffed or stripped, and stored under customs control. Containers move under bond between the gateway port and the ICD by rail or road, so exporters and importers complete customs formalities close to their premises rather than at a congested seaport. An ICD typically combines a container freight station, a bonded warehouse, and a customs office, and is connected to the port by a documented through-transport arrangement. The model decongests gateways and extends port reach inland.