A vertical lift system is constructed for transporting a receptacle, such as a food or supply receptacle from one deck to another deck, particularly in an aircraft. For this purpose, a vertical lift (71) is equipped with a number of lifting hooks (10) each mechanically coupled to a respective locking pawl (11). Each receptacle is equipped with a respective number of latch elements (9) such as recesses (92) to be engaged by a respective hook (10). The latching and unlatching is caused by the cooperation of the hooks (10) and pawls (11) with each other, with a stationary activating member (12) engaging a cam track (113) of a pawl (11), with biasing forces and with the latch elements (9). Latching requires a small downward motion of the vertical lift. Unlatching requires a slight further downward motion of the vertical lift. During latching and unlatching the receptacle (3) is supported on a floor (13).