Notify Party
The company or person named on a bill of lading to be told by the carrier when the cargo arrives, often the buyer, customs broker or destination agent.
TL;DR: The notify party is the contact the carrier informs when the shipment arrives at destination. Being the notify party does not by itself give the right to collect the goods.
The notify party field appears on the Bill of Lading and other transport documents. When the ship reaches port, the carrier or its agent sends an arrival notice to this party. The notice usually includes the arrival date, charges due, and instructions for collecting the cargo.
The field matters most when the consignee is not a named company. For example, when a B/L is made out “to order” under an L/C, the bank controls the goods, so the buyer is listed as notify party to make sure they hear about the arrival. When the buyer is already the consignee, the notify party is often “same as consignee” or the buyer’s customs broker.
It is common to name the customs broker or destination freight forwarder as notify party, or as a second notify party. This lets them start clearance early and avoid storage fees.
Check that the notify party includes a working phone number and email address. Arrival notices sent to an old contact are a common reason buyers miss free storage time and face Demurrage and Detention charges. Confirm the details on the draft B/L before the seller finalizes it. See also Consignee and Shipper.