Provided are a container terminal and a control method therefor that enhance a cargo handling efficiency by reducing a movement of each yard crane to a minimum possible extent. The container terminal is provided with a first transfer area 44 outside one end portion of a storage lane 20, and a second transfer area 47 outside the other end portion. When a circulating transport vehicle 31 and a shuttle vehicle 32 transfer a container k therebetween via a first yard crane 13 in the first transfer area 44, the shuttle vehicle 32 transports the container k to a second yard crane 14, and the second yard crane 14 handles the container in an unloading container area 46 of the storage lane 20. When an external chassis 33 and the shuttle vehicle 32 transfer a container k therebetween via the second yard crane 14 in the second transfer area 47, the shuttle vehicle 32 transports the container k to the seaside yard crane 13 and the first yard crane 13 handles the container in a loading container area 45 of the storage lane 20.