Acceptance of Goods

Acceptance of Goods refers to the formal receiving of cargo, meaning the receiving party acknowledges they have taken the goods into custody or taken delivery of them. In shipping, this can occur when a carrier or terminal accepts cargo for transport, or when the consignee accepts cargo at destination. Acceptance often triggers key responsibilities such as care, custody, and control, and it can affect when risk transfers depending on the contract terms. It is typically evidenced by documentation such as a receipt, proof of delivery, delivery order, gate-in record, or a signed acknowledgement. After acceptance, claims for visible damage or shortages may need to be raised quickly, since the act of acceptance can be treated as confirmation that the goods were received in apparent good order unless exceptions are noted.