The outermost of Deep Space 9's two rings, carrying the docking ports, airlocks and cargo bays through which most ships, passengers and freight reach the station.
The docking ring forms the outer edge of Deep Space 9 and is joined to the habitat ring and the central core by crossover bridges. Its ports are fitted with the distinctive rolling cog-wheel airlock doors of Cardassian design, and the USS Defiant is normally berthed at one of them.
The ring also contains many of the station's cargo bays, which makes it a favourite haunt of smugglers and of Quark's less respectable business partners. The docking pylons rise and fall from it at three points.
Many arrivals and departures are staged at its airlocks, from the first Starfleet officers coming aboard in Emissary to the farewells of What You Leave Behind.