TCB Group’s Belfast container freight station on Heron Road receives, devans and consolidates LCL cargo for Irish shipping agents and freight forwarders, with a maximum three-day turnaround, customs clearance and onward delivery across the island. Our Belfast CFS handles wholesale LCL imports from our direct consolidations, weekly LCL rail freight from China and exports for onward consolidation, alongside bonded storage and container loading and unloading. Every service is trade-only and sold through the agent to their customer.
The Facility and What It Handles
Our Belfast CFS sits at 14 Pilots View, Heron Road, Belfast BT3 9LE. It receives consolidated containers from our direct import consolidations, including our weekly service from Taiwan into Belfast, and devans them so each consignment can be checked, cleared and released. The Belfast CFS also receives cargo for export, and loads and unloads containers for agents who need a container stripped or stuffed. Bonded warehouse space is available for cargo that needs to be held before release.
Rail Freight from China into Belfast
Our weekly LCL rail service departs from Xi’an, with a 32-day end-to-end transit to Ireland and transhipment for delivery into both our Belfast CFS and our Dublin CFS. It carries cargo from across mainland China, and from South Korea through our Qingdao hub, giving agents a middle option between sea and air for their customers. See rail freight from China to Ireland.
Why Agents Route Consols into Belfast
“In my experience, something that we often get asked is why our inbound consols are routed into Belfast port rather than Dublin. Dublin port is operating at capacity, which brings a higher risk of delays on arrival. In contrast, our Belfast CFS gets consols destuffed and cargo available within 2-3 days of arrival. In practical terms, this offers a distinct advantage in terms of speed and reliability over those routing directly into Dublin.” Shane Delargy, Marketing Manager
Turnaround and Cut-Offs
Our Belfast CFS works to a maximum three-day turnaround on arrival, so your customer’s cargo is devanned, checked and available for release quickly. Because we run our own consolidations, we control the handling from the moment the container arrives. Cut-offs for exports and receiving times depend on the service and sailing, and we confirm them with each booking. Our online portal lets agents book, upload documents and track cargo through the Belfast CFS at any time.
Customs at the CFS
Customs clearance is handled at the Belfast CFS, so cargo can be cleared and released without moving to another site. We provide full customs clearance across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, DAP and DDP options, and agency representation for ROI agents in Northern Ireland and for NI agents in the Republic. Invoicing is in euro or sterling. For goods moving into or through Northern Ireland, HMRC guidance on trading and moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland sets out the current rules.
Onward Delivery Across Ireland
From the Belfast CFS, we deliver cargo across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, so an agent can book a single service from origin to their customer’s door. We also collect throughout Ireland for export cargo. Consignments can move on to our Dublin CFS where that suits the final delivery, and our European road groupage connects Belfast with mainland Europe. For shipping to Belfast from across Asia, the United States and Europe, see the lanes on our wholesale service, and for Dublin, see shipping from Dublin.
| Service at the Belfast CFS | What it covers |
|---|---|
| LCL devanning | Unloading consolidated containers and releasing each consignment |
| Turnaround | Maximum three days from arrival |
| Customs | Clearance across NI and ROI, DAP and DDP, agency representation |
| Storage | Bonded warehouse space for cargo awaiting release |
| Container handling | Loading and unloading containers for agents |
| Delivery | Onward delivery across the island of Ireland |
Dangerous Goods Handling
Dangerous goods can move through the Belfast CFS on our wholesale LCL sea services, provided they are correctly classified, packed, labelled and documented, and declared at booking so they can be handled and stored correctly. Our rail freight from China does not carry dangerous goods, medication or food for human consumption. Send the Safety Data Sheet with your rate request.
How Agents Book
Agents book Belfast CFS services through our wholesale team or the online booking portal.
- Make a partner enquiry: tell us about your agency and the lanes you use.
- Get agent rates: send the origin, destination, dimensions, weight and cargo details for a live shipment.
- Book and track: use the portal to book, upload commercial invoices, packing lists and clearance instructions, and follow cargo through the Belfast CFS.
Call +44 (0) 28 9560 8444 or email sales@tcbgroup.com, or in the Republic of Ireland call +353 (1) 6917858 or email sales-ie@tcbgroup.com. See our online booking portal and our Ireland office page.
Questions About the Belfast CFS
What Are the Opening Hours and Cut-Offs?
Receiving times and export cut-offs depend on the service and sailing. Our team confirms them with each booking, and the portal shows the status of cargo at the Belfast CFS at any time.
How Quickly Is Cargo Available?
Our Belfast CFS works to a maximum three-day turnaround on arrival, and consols are often destuffed and cargo available within two to three days.
Can You Deliver to the Customer Directly?
Yes. We deliver from the Belfast CFS to your customer’s address anywhere in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, as part of the service you sell to them. We do not work directly with our agent partners’ customers.