A Notice of Readiness (NOR) is a document used in the shipping industry to inform the charterer (the party that has rented or leased the vessel) that the ship is ready to load or unload cargo. It is typically used in voyage chartering, where the charterer has a specific time frame, known as lay days, to load and unload the cargo.

The NOR is issued by the captain of the ship and serves as official notification that the vessel is ready to commence loading or unloading operations. The issuance of the NOR marks the start of the lay days, and the charterer is responsible for completing the loading or unloading within this time frame. If the lay days are exceeded, the charterer may be required to pay compensation, known as demurrage, to the shipowner.

In the case of weather-sensitive cargo, such as grains that must be kept dry, the term "weather lay days" or "weather working days" may be used. In this case, periods of bad weather that make it impossible to load or unload the cargo do not count towards the lay days.

Overall, the Notice of Readiness is an important document in the shipping industry, as it serves as official notification that the vessel is ready to commence loading or unloading operations and marks the start of the lay days. It is used to ensure the efficient and timely movement of cargo and to avoid delays and additional costs due to missed lay days.