Arrival notice

An arrival notice is the document an ocean carrier or its agent sends to the notify party and consignee announcing that a shipment has arrived, or is about to arrive, at the destination port or terminal. It states the vessel and voyage, the bill of lading number, container numbers, the place of delivery, and the charges due before release: ocean freight on collect terms, terminal handling, and any accrued demurrage or detention. The notice triggers the consignee’s customs clearance and pickup planning. It is an operational advisory, not a document of title, so it does not control release on its own; the original bill of lading or a telex release still governs cargo handover.