Notify party

The notify party is the entity named on a bill of lading whom the carrier alerts when the shipment arrives, so it can arrange customs clearance and collection. It is often the consignee, a customs broker, or a freight forwarder acting for the buyer, and on a ’to order’ negotiable bill the notify party is frequently the only named contact while title moves by endorsement. Naming a notify party imposes no ownership or delivery right: the carrier still releases cargo only against an original bill, a sea waybill instruction, or a telex release. The notify-party field drives the arrival notice; a wrong or stale entry delays clearance and runs up demurrage.