What is Notify Party?
The notify party is the person or company named on a bill of lading, sea waybill or air waybill whom the carrier or its agent should inform when the goods arrive. It is usually the buyer, the buyer's customs broker or the forwarder's destination agent. Being named as notify party does not in itself give any right to take delivery or any title to the goods; those rights belong to the consignee or, under an order bill, to the lawful holder of the bill. The field is especially important when bills are made out "to order" or to the order of a bank, because the consignee field then does not show who should receive the arrival notice. In US advance cargo declarations, carriers must report other commercial parties listed on the bill for delivery or contact purposes in the "Notify Party" field (19 CFR 4.7a).
Why it matters for forwarders
Errors in the notify party are a common reason arrival notices go to the wrong place and free time is lost before anyone knows the cargo has arrived. Under UCP 600 article 14(j), when the applicant's address and contact details appear as part of the consignee or notify party details on a transport document, they must be as stated in the credit, so this field must be copied exactly from the LC. Forwarders should confirm the notify party with both shipper and consignee at booking and keep it consistent between master and house bills where relevant. Bill of lading terms often limit the carrier's responsibility for failing to notify, so consignees should track arrivals themselves rather than rely on the notice. A second notify party can usually be added for the customs broker or delivery agent.