CRN · pdf-lib

Cargo readiness notice

Build a cargo readiness notice telling the buyer and forwarder the cargo is ready at origin. Set the readiness date, collection cut-off, package and weight summary, contact name. The PDF is the seller proof that the contractual readiness obligation was met.

Last updated 2026-05-09. Math runs in your browser, no data leaves your computer.

General guidance only, not legal or professional engineering advice. Verify against the cited primary sources (IMDG, REACH, ChAFTA, RCEP, Customs Tariff Act, supplier SDS, etc.) before committing to a shipment, declaration, or contract. Sourzi assumes no liability for outcomes based on these calculators.

A CRN is the seller-to-buyer trigger that starts the buyer-side logistics chain: forwarder books the vessel, customs declaration files, BL draft issues. Aim for 2 to 7 days lead time before physical readiness.

Parties

Cargo

Contact and notes

Document header

CRN as a contractual signal

Most chemical purchase orders set a contractual readiness date that is the seller obligation. Hitting that date is the difference between the seller getting paid on time and the seller paying liquidated damages for late delivery. The CRN is the formal proof the seller met the date; without it, the buyer can argue the cargo was not actually ready and trigger penalty clauses.

A CRN should go out 2 to 7 days before physical readiness, not the day-of. The buyer forwarder needs lead time to book a vessel slot, arrange inland trucking, and file pre-shipment customs documentation. Day-of CRN means the buyer scrambles to book at peak rates; the seller absorbs the cost as goodwill. Two-to-seven-day lead is the cheap insurance.

Collection cut-off matters because the seller does not want cargo sitting in the factory yard indefinitely. After the cut-off, the seller moves the cargo to alternate storage and starts charging warehouse fees (typically 5 to 15 USD per pallet per week). Putting the cut-off on the CRN makes the financial implication explicit; the buyer cannot quietly let the cargo sit and avoid the cost.

For DG cargo, the CRN should mention the IMDG class and any pre-shipment inspection completed. The forwarder needs the DG class to confirm vessel acceptance; the inspection completion lets the buyer drop the inspector booking step.

Worked example. Late CRN, missed slot

The booking. Seller commits to 25-tonne shipment readiness on 15 June 2026 in the PO. Cargo is genuinely ready 14 June. Seller sends CRN to buyer 14 June afternoon. Looks fine on paper.

The failure. Buyer forwarder receives CRN at the close of business 14 June. The next available sailing on the lane is 16 June, cut-off 15 June 14:00. Forwarder cannot book inland trucking from Shanghai factory to Qingdao port (10 hours) and clear customs in the 18 hours available. Slot rolls to next sailing 23 June; cargo lands 8 days late at destination. Buyer customer goes JIT-stockout; supplier absorbs a 1,800 USD chargeback.

The fix. On the next shipment the seller issues the CRN 4 working days before the contractual readiness date. The buyer forwarder books the vessel slot for the planned readiness date; trucking is pre-arranged; customs declaration files in advance. Cargo lands at port the morning of readiness, sails the next day, no roll. The CRN lead time was free; the missed-slot cost was 1,800 USD plus relationship damage.

Frequently asked

What is a cargo readiness notice?

A cargo readiness notice (CRN) is the formal note from the seller to the buyer (and the buyer freight forwarder) saying the cargo is ready for collection or inspection at the agreed origin location, by the agreed date. It triggers the buyer side of the booking process: the forwarder books the vessel slot, customs declaration is filed, BL draft is issued.

When should the CRN go out?

Two to seven days before cargo is physically ready, ideally aligned to the contractually agreed readiness date in the PO. The buyer forwarder needs the lead time to book a vessel slot and arrange inland trucking. Late CRN means the buyer cannot book in time and the cargo sits at the factory until the next available sailing.

What goes on a CRN?

PO reference, contract reference if separate, cargo description, package count, gross and net weight, container or pallet count, address where cargo can be collected or inspected, contact name and phone for the warehouse, and the readiness date plus collection cut-off (when the cargo will be moved if not collected by then).

Does the CRN replace the booking confirmation?

No. The CRN is the seller-to-buyer signal that the cargo is ready; the booking confirmation is the carrier-to-shipper confirmation that the vessel slot is reserved. Both documents are needed; the CRN is the seller proof that it met the contractual readiness obligation.

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