Inland ports (sometimes called dry ports) are inland intermodal terminals directly connected by rail (or road) to a seaport and operate as centres for the transshipment of sea cargo to inland destinations. In addition to their role in cargo transshipment, inland ports may also include facilities for storage and consolidation of goods and customs clearance services.
The location of these facilities at an inland port relieves competition for storage and customs space at the seaport itself, where often residential areas, road networks and industrial facilities compete for land.
With RFID readers at the railway entrances/exits of the seaport as well as inland ports, and tags on the port’s wagons and/or sea containers, management of the container logistics is significantly facilitated.
The central system is automatically updated about goods movements for more effectiveness in customs checking/clearance, better inland connectivity and improved container stuffing facilities.
This all leads to less congestion at associated sea port/eases pressure at associated sea port.