Considering the characteristics of the adjacent container terminals in the same region, such as similar logistics functions, overlapping cargo hinterlands, severe disorderly competition, and low resource utilization rates, this study focuses on the problem of multiple container terminal tactical berth and yard incorporate integrative scheduling (MCT-TBY-IIS), where the terminals are managed by the same organization and located adjacent to each other. Based on computational logistics, the MCT-TBY-IIS problem is decomposed into two subproblems of moderate coupling: the multi-terminal dynamic and continuous berth allocation problem (MDC-BAP) and the multi-terminal periodic and rolling yard allocation problem (MPR-YAP). This decomposition is achieved by using the multiple knapsack problem, as well as considering berth depth constraints and export containers with transferable terminal options. Subsequently, the hierarchical nesting-oriented two-stage improved imperialist competitive algorithm (HNO-TSI-ICA) is customized to optimize MCT-TBY-IIS under the guidance of problem-oriented exploration. Lastly, with typical examples of multi-terminal joint operations in the southeast coastal region in China, a combination of two algorithms is selected and applied to HNO-TSI-ICA for solving the MCT-TBY-IIS problem: the prosperity and destruction-oriented improved imperialist competitive algorithm with double assimilation, and the binary imperialist competitive algorithm for the 0-1 knapsack problem. Moreover, the structure of the target cost of the storage yard operation subsystem is stable and not affected by the port load or the length of the planning period. Notably, the horizontal transportation cost of containers in the export container area makes the largest contribution to the sub-target cost of storage yard operations, maintaining a stable proportion of 83%. Through the modeling and optimization of MCT-TBY-IIS, it is found that the multi-terminal cooperative operation mode has great potential to help the neighboring multiple terminals in the same organization reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve the utilization rate of core resources.