Dock Receipt
A Dock Receipt is a document issued by a terminal or carrier acknowledging that cargo has been received at the dock/terminal and is now in the carrier's custody, awaiting loading onto the vessel. It records the goods, their condition and quantity as delivered, and serves as interim evidence of receipt before the bill of lading is issued.
The dock receipt is a step in the export hand-off: once the goods are delivered to the terminal and the receipt issued, the carrier has taken charge of them, and the details on the dock receipt (and any noted damage or shortage) feed into the eventual bill of lading. It functions much like a mate's receipt in traditional shipping. Accurate dock receipts matter because any exceptions noted at receipt carry through to the B/L and affect where responsibility for loss or damage lies.
The dock receipt is the moment custody of the cargo passes to the carrier — and any damage or shortage noted then follows through onto the bill of lading and shapes liability. It is the quiet handover record that decides who is on the hook if something is already wrong when the goods reach the terminal.
What is the difference between a dock receipt and a bill of lading?
The dock receipt acknowledges cargo received at the terminal before loading; the bill of lading is the formal transport document and title issued once the goods are shipped.
What is a mate's receipt?
A similar acknowledgement of goods received on board, historically signed by the ship's mate, feeding into the bill of lading.