Complete Container Depot Storage and Leasing in Bangladesh

A container depot is the place where shipping containers wait between jobs. A container arrives from a port, a factory or a warehouse, it is checked in, stored in a yard or under cover, and then it is sent out again — empty to be loaded, or loaded to be delivered. For an importer in Bangladesh, the depot is where storage and leasing meet: you may need a place to keep a container for a few days, a unit to hire for a longer period, or both at the same time.

This guide explains how container depot storage and leasing work in Bangladesh, in practical terms: the kinds of storage a depot offers, how a lease is arranged, what to check before you agree, and which records to keep. Rates and terms are confirmed in writing at booking, depending on container size and type, duration, location and availability. Nothing here replaces the written terms of your own booking.

What a Container Depot Is

A container depot is a yard, and often a covered area as well, where shipping containers are stored, checked, cleaned, repaired and handed over. It is not a port, and it is not a warehouse in the usual sense, although it sits between the two. Containers come to a depot from Chittagong Port, from Mongla Port, from factories and warehouses, and from other depots. They leave the depot on trucks, and in some places by rail, to go to a loading point, a factory, a warehouse or a building site.

A depot does several jobs at once. It stores empty containers waiting for their next load, and loaded containers waiting for delivery. It checks containers in and out, records their condition at each handover, cleans them, and carries out small repairs, such as fixing a door seal. Some depots also offer a covered storage area and an office for booking and paperwork.

In Bangladesh, depots are found near the main ports and near Dhaka. Which depot suits you depends on where your cargo is, where it needs to go, and how long it needs to be stored.

Storage and Leasing — How They Fit Together

Storage and leasing are two different services, and a depot booking often includes one or both of them. Storage means the depot keeps a container for you. The container may be yours, or it may be a hired unit, or it may be a container that arrived with your cargo and is waiting to be unloaded. You pay for the space and the handling, and the depot is responsible for keeping the unit in the agreed place and condition while it is there.

Leasing means you hire a container for a period. You do not own the unit. You use it to carry cargo, to store goods at your own site, or to hold stock while a shipment is arranged, and then you return it to the depot named in the agreement. The lease covers the hire period, the condition of the unit at handover, and what happens when it comes back.

Many bookings combine the two: an importer may lease a container, load it at a factory, and then store the loaded container at the depot for a few days while transport is arranged, or lease an empty container and keep it at the depot until the loading date. In both cases, the storage part and the leasing part should be named separately in the written terms, so that it is clear what is covered, for how long, and what is charged for each part.

Types of Storage at a Container Depot

Not all depot storage is the same. The right type depends on what is in the container, how long it will stay, and how often you need to reach it.

Short-term storage is for a container that will be at the depot for a short period — while a truck is arranged, documents are completed, or a delivery date is confirmed. It is usually kept in a marked bay in the open yard, where it can be reached quickly.

Longer-term storage is for a container that will stay at the depot for a longer period, for example while stock is held or a shipment is split into smaller deliveries. Ask how it will be placed, whether it will be stacked or kept at ground level, and how access will work if you need to open it during the storage period.

Empty container storage is the depot’s everyday work. Empty units are stacked in rows, checked, and kept ready for their next hire. If you are returning an empty container, the depot will check its condition, record any damage, and give you a receipt for the handover.

Loaded container storage is different, because the cargo inside matters. A loaded container should be kept on level ground, with its doors closed and sealed, and it should not be moved without a reason.

Covered storage is storage under a roof, in a shed or a hall, rather than in the open yard. It suits cargo that should be kept out of rain and direct sun, and covered space is limited, so ask early and confirm in writing whether your booking includes it.

Container Sizes and Types for Storage and Leasing

The container you store or lease decides how much you can keep in it, and where it can go. A 20ft container is about 6 metres long and suits most small to medium loads: a single order of cartons, a mixed load, or a first shipment. A 40ft container is about 12 metres long and holds roughly twice the volume in general terms, suiting a larger order in one unit — but it needs a longer approach, more turning space and a wider gate, so check your site and the depot access before you choose it.

A standard container is generally around 2.6 metres high outside. A high cube container is generally around 2.9 metres high, giving more internal height for light, bulky cargo, such as garments in cartons. An open-top container suits cargo that is loaded from above, and a flat rack suits cargo that does not fit inside a standard box. These types are less common, and they may not be available at every depot, so ask about availability when you enquire.

Condition matters as much as size. Before you accept a leased container, check it in daylight: the doors should open, close and seal properly, the floor should be solid and dry, and the roof, walls and inside should be clean, dry and free of leaks. Take photos at handover, and ask for the condition to be written on the handover record.

How Leasing from a Depot Works

A depot lease usually starts with an enquiry. You tell the depot, or Total Import Solution, what you need: the container size and type, whether you need storage as well as a lease, where the container will be collected and returned, how long you will keep it, and what it will carry or store. The depot checks availability and then gives you written terms.

The written terms should name the container size and type, the hire period and its start and end dates, the collection and return points, the condition of the unit at handover, and the charges that apply. They should also name what happens if the container is returned late, damaged or dirty, or kept for longer than agreed. Ask for the total cost in writing, with each part named, before you pay anything.

Once the terms are agreed, the container is handed over. The handover is the most important moment in the lease, because it fixes the condition of the unit at the start. Walk around the container, check the doors, the floor, the roof and the walls, and check the inside. Note anything you find on the handover record, and keep a copy. If the depot gives you a seal number, write it down and check that the seal matches.

When the hire ends, the container is returned to the depot named in the agreement, and the depot checks it against the handover record from the start. Keep your copy of both handover records until the hire is closed in writing.

Lease Terms to Confirm in Writing

A lease is only as clear as its written terms. Before you agree, read the terms and confirm the following points, in writing, with the depot or with Total Import Solution.

First, the hire period. Confirm the start date, the end date, and how the period is counted — from the day the container leaves the depot, or from the day it is delivered to your site. Confirm how an extension is arranged, so that you are not caught out if your plans change.

Second, the collection and return points. Confirm the depot where you collect the container and the depot where you return it. If the return depot is different from the collection depot, confirm that in writing, because a return to the wrong depot can cause delay and extra handling.

Third, the condition of the container. Confirm the condition noted at handover, what counts as damage and what counts as fair wear, and who pays for cleaning if the container comes back dirty or for repairs if it comes back damaged.

Fourth, access and use. Confirm what the container may be used for, whether it may be moved from one site to another during the hire, and whether you need to tell the depot first.

Fifth, security and care. In most leases, you are responsible for keeping the unit safe, locked and on suitable ground while it is in your care. Confirm what to do if it is damaged while it is with you, and who to contact.

Sixth, the charges. Ask for every charge to be named in writing: the hire charge, any storage charge, any handling charge, any cleaning or repair charge that may apply, and any charge for a late return. A written total, with each part named, is the only safe basis for a booking.

Depot Checks Before You Book

If you can, visit the depot before you book, or ask for clear photos and a written description of the place where your container will be kept. A visit tells you more in a short time than a phone call can.

Look at the ground first. The yard should be level, firm and drained, so that water does not stand around the containers after rain. A container standing in water can rust at the base, and a container on soft ground can sink or tilt. Look at how the containers are stacked: they should be level, with their corners lined up, and the stacks should be stable. A leaning stack is a warning sign.

Look at security. A depot should have a fenced boundary, a gate with a guard or a check-in point, and a record of every container that comes in and goes out. Ask how access is controlled outside working hours, and how a container is checked during a longer stay.

Look at handling equipment. A depot needs a forklift, a crane or a reach stacker to move containers safely, and it must be able to handle the size of container you need.

Look at the covered area, if you need it. A shed or hall should be dry, with a sound roof and a level floor. Ask whether your container will be under cover for the whole storage period or only for part of it. Finally, ask about the depot’s paperwork: a well-run depot gives you a written receipt at check-in, a handover record at collection, and a written closing note when a container is returned.

Receiving and Returning a Container, Step by Step

Step 1: Enquiry. Contact Total Import Solution with your size and type, whether you need storage, leasing or both, the collection and return points, the dates, and what the container will carry or store. Ask for the written terms and the total cost, with each part named.

Step 2: Confirmation. Read the written terms, check the hire period, the collection and return points, the condition notes and the charges, and confirm the booking in writing. If anything is unclear, ask before you pay.

Step 3: Collection. Check the container in daylight, note its condition on the handover record, take photos, and check the seal number if one is given. Keep a copy of the handover record.

Step 4: Use and storage. Use the container as agreed in the terms. Keep it on level, firm ground, locked when it is not being loaded or unloaded, and clean and dry inside. If anything changes — the dates, the site, or the use — tell the depot in writing before you act.

Step 5: Return. Return the container to the depot named in the agreement, on or before the agreed date. Clean it out, remove any rubbish, and check it before you hand it over.

Step 6: Closing. Ask for a written closing note, confirming that the container has been returned, its condition at return, and whether any further charge applies. Keep that note with your other records. Do not treat the hire as closed until you have it in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a container depot? A container depot is a yard, often with a covered area, where shipping containers are stored, checked, cleaned, repaired and handed over between jobs.

2. What is the difference between depot storage and container leasing? Storage means the depot keeps a container for you. Leasing means you hire a container, use it yourself, then return it. A booking can include one or both.

3. Which container size should I choose for depot storage? A 20ft container, about 6 metres long, suits most small to medium loads. A 40ft container, about 12 metres long, suits a larger order in one unit. Check your site access first.

4. What is a high cube container? A high cube container is generally around 2.9 metres high outside, compared with around 2.6 metres for a standard container, giving more room for light, bulky cargo.

5. How do I book depot storage and leasing? Contact Total Import Solution with the container size and type, whether you need storage, leasing or both, the collection and return points, the dates, and what the container will carry or store.

6. What should the written lease terms include? The size and type, the hire period and dates, the collection and return points, the condition at handover, what counts as damage, and every charge that applies.

7. What should I check when I collect a leased container? Check it in daylight: doors should open, close and seal, the floor should be solid and dry, the roof and walls free of holes and leaks, and the inside clean and dry. Take photos.

8. Where do I return the container? Return it to the depot named in the agreement, on or before the agreed date. Confirm the return depot in writing, and give your driver its name and address in writing.

9. What happens if I return the container late? A late return is usually charged for the extra period, under the written terms. Confirm the end date in writing, and tell the depot in writing as soon as you may need an extension.

10. What happens if the container is damaged when I return it? The depot checks it against the handover record from the start of the hire, and the written terms decide what happens next. That is why photos at collection matter.

11. Do I need to clean the container before I return it? Yes. Clean it out, remove any rubbish, and check it before you hand it over. A container that comes back dirty may need cleaning, and the written terms will say who pays for it.

12. Can I store a loaded container at a depot? Yes. Keep it on level ground, with its doors closed and sealed, and do not move it without a reason. Ask whether the depot separates loaded containers from empty ones.

13. Is covered storage available at a depot? Some depots offer covered storage under a roof. It suits cargo that should be kept out of rain and direct sun. Covered space is limited, so ask early and confirm it in writing.

14. Can I open and inspect my container during storage? Ask the depot before you book. In many cases you can arrange to open and inspect your own container, but it must be placed where it can be reached, so tell the depot in advance.

15. How do I get the rates and terms for my booking? Rates and terms are confirmed in writing at booking, depending on container size and type, duration, location and availability. Ask for the total cost in writing, with each part named.

Contact Total Import Solution

For depot storage and leasing in Bangladesh, contact Total Import Solution — an importer since 2016.

• WhatsApp: +8801977954302
• Email: info@totalimportsolution.com
• Website: totalimportsolution.com

Share your container size and type, whether you need storage, leasing or both, the collection and return points, and your dates. Ask for the written terms and the total cost, with each part named, before you agree.