Dock receipt

A dock receipt is the document issued by a steamship line (or its terminal) when cargo is delivered to the dock for export shipment. It confirms quantity, condition, and any apparent damage before the cargo is loaded.

The dock receipt is the export-side analogue of an arrival receipt: it documents the carrier's acceptance of the cargo at the origin port. It is the first written record in the chain of custody for ocean export.

Any apparent damage at the time of receipt is noted on the dock receipt. Those notations are the foundation of cargo claims — if a notation exists, the claim is straightforward; if not, the claim is much harder to substantiate later.

Many ports now issue an electronic dock receipt that feeds directly into the export bill of lading. Paper dock receipts are still common for break-bulk and ro-ro cargo.

Related terms

Bill of lading vs. shipping manifestA bill of lading is a legal contract between a shipper and a carrier for a single shipment. A manifest is an operational document listing all cargo on a vehicle, vessel, or container, often covering many bills of lading.

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