Documentation
Arrival Notice
A notification sent by the carrier or forwarder to the consignee and notify party shortly before or on arrival of a shipment, listing charges due and the steps needed to take delivery.
In depth
The arrival notice is the trigger for the whole destination process. It confirms the vessel or flight has arrived or is about to, identifies the cargo, and sets out what must happen before release — outstanding freight and destination charges, documents to be surrendered, and customs clearance. It is not a document of title and does not itself release the cargo. Acting on it promptly matters commercially: free time starts running on discharge regardless of whether anyone has read the notice, so a delayed response converts directly into demurrage.
Key points
- Sent to consignee and notify party at or before arrival
- Lists charges due and the steps to obtain release
- Not a document of title and does not release the cargo
- Free time runs from discharge, so delay costs money immediately