What does dockage mean?
Dockage is a noun with two main commercial meanings. In maritime contexts, it denotes either the fee charged for mooring a vessel at a dock, pier, or marina, or the berthing space itself that a port makes available to ships. Marina owners quote dockage rates by boat length and length of stay, making the word familiar to sailors and harbour operators alike. In North American agriculture, dockage has a second life: it refers to the allowance subtracted from a grain shipment's grade or weight on account of weed seeds, chaff, and other foreign material. The word carries a formal, transactional register — you encounter it on invoices, tariffs, and inspection certificates rather than in casual speech. Formed from 'dock' with the suffix '-age', it sits alongside kindred terms like wharfage and storage, all denoting charges or provisions connected with handling goods and vessels. Its dual life at both the waterfront and the grain elevator makes it a compact example of how trade vocabulary migrates between industries.
A charge for mooring a ship at a dock, or the berthing space provided for vessels.
"The port raised its dockage rates at the start of the fiscal year."
(North American agriculture) An allowance deducted from grain for weed seeds and other foreign material.
"Elevators assess dockage before assigning the final grade to delivered wheat."
Rarely pluralised; the word usually appears uncountable when referring to fees or space collectively, though plural forms occur when itemising separate charges or assessments.
"The invoice listed several separate dockages for the season's berthing."
The same word that bills your cruise ship for parking can also dock the value of a farmer's wheat — 'dockage' works both the waterfront and the grain elevator.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dockage
Dockage derives from 'dock', the enclosed basin where ships are moored, combined with the noun-forming suffix '-age' used to denote charges, collections, or accommodations. The word 'dock' itself entered English in the late medieval period, most likely from Middle Dutch or Low German 'dok', reflecting the maritime trading ties between England and the Low Countries, though its ultimate origin remains uncertain. The suffix '-age' comes from Old French, ultimately from Latin '-aticum'. Related formations include docker, dockyard, and dry dock.
How dockage is actually used
Primarily a commercial and maritime term, encountered in shipping invoices, marina rate sheets, and port regulations rather than everyday conversation. In Canada and the United States it has an established secondary meaning in grain grading, where it functions as a technical term of trade.
Easily confused with dockage
Wharfage is the charge for using a wharf or quay specifically, whereas dockage covers mooring within a dock or harbour generally.
A docket is a list of cases or items to be dealt with; it sounds similar but has nothing to do with ships or fees.