What is a delivery order (D/O)?
A delivery order (D/O, called "ordino" in Turkish) is the document with which the carrier's agent tells the terminal or the warehouse that the goods may be delivered to the consignee once freight and arrival charges have been paid and the delivery condition in the bill of lading has been met. It is not a document found in customs legislation; its function begins with the physical delivery of the goods.
Is a delivery order compulsory for customs formalities?
For customs purposes, no. The delivery order is not a document found in customs legislation, and a letter of the General Directorate of Customs dated 23.11.2017 states expressly that customs offices will not ask for a delivery order at any stage of customs formalities; a declaration can be registered without one. The delivery order nevertheless remains in practice, because its function is on the delivery side: it is asked for by the line's agent so that the goods can actually be collected from the terminal or the bonded warehouse. This separation makes a practical difference: customs clearance and the delivery order process can run in parallel.
When and how is a delivery order obtained?
The delivery order is issued when two conditions are met together. The monetary condition is that freight and the local charges on the arrival side have been paid; if freight is payable at destination (collect), the agent does not release the cargo until payment has been collected. The document condition is that the delivery condition in the bill of lading has been met.
- The arrival notice is received from the agent
- Freight and the local charges on the arrival side are paid; this step is critical in collect shipments
- The delivery condition on the bill of lading side is met: presentation of the original B/L or a telex release
- The agent issues the delivery order and gives the delivery instruction to the terminal or the warehouse
- The goods are physically collected; for FCL, the plan for returning the empty container should already have been made
What happens if no delivery order is obtained?
There is no blockage on the customs side: the declaration can be registered, duties can be paid and inspection can be completed. What is blocked is the physical delivery: the goods stay in the terminal or the warehouse. This wait usually runs three items at the same time. Storage paid to the terminal counts the time spent in the yard; demurrage paid to the carrier is the charge for the full container waiting beyond the free time; and once the container is pulled out, the detention counter starts. Because the free time arises from the contract, not from legislation, this calendar changes with the carrier's tariff.
Which documents are confused with the delivery order?
There are four documents on the arrival side that go by similar names. The arrival notice is information only; it announces that the ship has arrived and the charges to be paid, and does not give authority to take delivery. The bill of lading is the document that represents the goods and sets the delivery condition. The delivery order does not replace the bill of lading; it is its result. The customs declaration is an entirely separate process. Because naming varies from agent to agent, it should be confirmed which document is meant.
Is a fee charged for the delivery order?
Since the customs administration does not ask for a delivery order, this item is not a public charge but the agent's service invoice. In practice agents can invoice a similar item under different names; a document fee or a cargo delivery fee can fulfil the same function. So rather than arguing about the existence of the item, it is more productive to ask at the quotation stage for the local charges on the arrival side to be listed line by line (see also terminal handling charge).
The function of the documents that are confused on arrival
| Document |
Who issues it |
Function |
Does customs ask for it? |
| Arrival notice |
The carrier's agent |
Announces the arrival and the charges to be paid; gives no authority to take delivery |
No |
| Bill of lading (B/L) |
The carrier |
Represents the goods and sets the delivery condition |
It is among the documents attached to the declaration |
| Delivery order (D/O) |
The carrier's agent |
The delivery instruction given to the terminal once the delivery condition has been met |
No |
| Customs declaration |
The liable person or the customs broker |
Places the goods under a customs regime |
Yes, it is the process itself |
Frequently asked questions
Is a delivery order a document found in customs legislation?
No. The delivery order is not a document found in customs legislation, and a letter of the General Directorate of Customs dated 23.11.2017 states expressly that customs offices will not ask for a delivery order at any stage of customs formalities. Its function is in the physical collection of the goods from the terminal or the warehouse.
Can a declaration be registered without a delivery order?
Yes. This is the practical way to use the time efficiently: customs formalities and the delivery order process can run in parallel. Delaying the declaration to wait for the delivery order means using up part of the free time for nothing.
Can I take my goods out of the port without a delivery order?
In practice, no. Customs does not ask for a delivery order, but terminal and warehouse operators do not release goods without the agent's delivery instruction. Even if customs formalities are finished, the goods wait in the yard if freight and arrival charges have not been paid or the delivery condition has not been met.
I have a telex release; is a delivery order needed as well?
Yes, they are different steps. A telex release meets the delivery condition on the bill of lading side; it signals that the cargo can be released without the original documents being sent by courier. The delivery order is the step after that and is the delivery instruction the agent gives to the terminal; the telex release is its precondition, not its substitute.