Benin BESC (ECTN) Certificate

To ensure a smooth customs clearance process at destination ports, shippers are advised to initiate the Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BESC) application as soon as the Bill of Lading is obtained.

All documents should be sent by email as clear PDF copies. Hard copies are not required for BESC issuance.

Any amendments requested after a certificate has been validated may incur an amendment fee.

Mandatory BESC / ECTN certificate for shipments to Benin

Every shipment discharged at the Port of Cotonou must be declared with a valid BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi de Cargaisons), also known as the ECTN.

Without a valid ECTN, cargo cannot be cleared through Beninese customs.

How long does the approval process take?

Once all the required documents reach us, the draft ECTN certificate is shared for your confirmation. After confirmation and payment the document goes to the Beninese authorities for approval.

The process usually takes a few days, but up to one week should be allowed when planning a shipment.

Required Documents - Benin BESC

• Bill of Lading - a draft copy may be used to begin the application
• Commercial Invoice
• Freight Invoice - required when freight charges are not clearly shown on the Commercial Invoice
• Export Customs Declaration
• Packing List

Bill of Lading

The Bill of Lading (BL) serves as the primary cargo receipt for all maritime shipments bound for Cotonou.

• The destination on the Bill of Lading must clearly state Cotonou or Benin transit.
• For LCL shipment applications with the House BL (HBL), the Master BL (MBL) may also be required if deemed necessary.
• For containerized vehicle shipments, chassis numbers should be accurately matched to their respective containers.

Commercial Invoice

All items shipped must be backed by a clear commercial transaction document showing value breakdowns.

• The commercial invoice must contain the HS code (Harmonized System code) for each category of goods shipped.
• Values must match the customs declaration form exactly.
• The Incoterm must be clearly stated and the value breakdown must correspond properly.

Example: if the Incoterm is CFR, the following values should be clearly indicated: FOB and freight.

Freight Invoice

A separate Freight Invoice is required if the freight value is not indicated in the Commercial Invoice.

Export Customs Declaration

Beninese customs authorities require the export declaration from the loading country to verify the declared transaction values.

All information contained in the Export Customs Declaration must correspond to the relevant details in the other documents.

Amendment fees on a validated Benin ECTN

Maximum amendment fee

The maximum amendment fee that can be applied to an ECTN certificate is 100 Euro.

• On ECTNs of 500 Euro and above, the amendment fee is capped at 100 points
• On ECTNs below 500 points, the amendment fee is 20% of the ECTN amount

International ECTN validation and payment

The ECTN certificate must be paid for and validated at the port of loading, before the vessel departs.

Cargo that reaches Benin without an ECTN faces serious delays in customs clearance, which is why forwarders must complete the ECTN before loading.

Penalties on RoRo shipments

Vehicle shipments without an ECTN are treated as a breach of the regulations.

In that case the importer:

• is obliged to have an international ECTN issued, and
• pays a penalty of 50,000 CFA per vehicle

Which port name must appear on the Bill of Lading?

Cotonou is Benin’s single main port.

If the Bill of Lading shows Cotonou as the port of discharge, a Benin ECTN certificate is mandatory.

Benin Transit Shipments

Is an ECTN required for transit shipments to landlocked countries?

Yes. Cargo discharged at the Port of Cotonou and moving on to another country requires two separate certificates:

• BESC / ECTN for Benin
• ECTN / BSC for the final destination country

Is a BSC required for transit through Benin to Burkina Faso?

Yes. Cargo moving through Benin to Burkina Faso needs two separate documents:

• BESC for Benin
• BSC for Burkina Faso

Is a BESC required for transit through Benin to Niger?

Yes. Cargo moving through Benin to Niger needs two separate documents:

• BESC for Benin
• BESC for Niger

Vehicle Shipments

For containerized vehicle shipments, chassis numbers should be accurately matched to their respective containers. If the shipment is not properly declared as containerized cargo, it may need to be processed as a RoRo shipment.

RoRo vehicle shipments without the required certificate may be treated as a compliance breach and may trigger penalties at destination.

What is BESC?

BESC is short for Bordereau Électronique de Suivi de Cargaisons. The same document is also called the ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note).

At a number of African ports, Benin among them, it is applied as a mandatory cargo tracking document.

Responsibility

Obtaining the ECTN / BESC certificate is the shipper’s responsibility.

Shipments without the certificate are subject to penalties, and the shipper bears any resulting loss.

Can the same BESC number be used for more than one shipment?

No. Each BESC / ECTN number is valid for a single shipment.

A separate, validated certificate must be issued for every consignment.

Critical notes

• An application form must be completed to initiate the certification process. You may either complete the form yourself using this link, or our team can complete it on your behalf for a service fee.
• Any amendments to a validated certificate will incur an amendment fee.
• For non-containerized (RoRo, general cargo or bulk) shipment tariff, please contact our support team.

One BESC certificate is issued per BL, in soft copy, and the BESC number will be issued along with the draft.

For further information please contact our support team.

Regulations are subject to change, we recommend confirming the latest country-specific requirements with our team via email.

Required documents for the Benin BESC

How the Benin BESC is issued

1. Send the documents. PDF copies to sck@scktr.com; a draft Bill of Lading is enough to start.
2. Pre-screen. We reconcile the invoice values, the Incoterm breakdown and the export declaration before filing - those three disagreeing is the usual reason a Benin file stalls.
3. Draft issued for your confirmation, with the BESC number.
4. Validation. After confirmation and payment the certificate goes to the Benin authorities. Usually a few days; allow up to one week when planning.
5. Number onto the Bill of Lading before the vessel departs.

When to apply - the deadline that matters

As soon as the Bill of Lading is obtained. The BESC must be paid for and validated at the port of loading before the vessel departs; a file left until after departure is what causes the clearance delays at Cotonou.

How long a Benin BESC is valid

One validated BESC covers one Bill of Lading and one shipment. Each cargo movement needs its own certificate.

Who files the Benin BESC

The shipper. Responsibility for obtaining the BESC / ECTN sits on the shipper’s side, and the shipper carries any resulting loss.

What happens if cargo arrives without one

Cargo cannot be cleared through Beninese customs without a valid ECTN, and clearance is seriously delayed while the file is regularised. RoRo vehicle shipments moved without one are treated as a regulatory breach.

What a Benin BESC costs

Two parts: the tariff set by the issuing authority, which varies with cargo type, container count and tonnage, and our fee for preparing and filing the declaration. Amendments to a validated certificate carry a separate amendment fee. We quote the whole thing as one figure once we have seen the shipment details - email sck@scktr.com. For non-containerised RoRo, general cargo or bulk tariffs, ask our support team.

Which port it covers

Cotonou is Benin’s main and only seaport. If the Bill of Lading shows Cotonou as the port of discharge, a Benin BESC is mandatory.

Other names for this document

BESC, ECTN, BSC and CTN all name the same declaration. Along the same corridor it appears as a BESC in Togo, an ECTN / URN in Burkina Faso, a BESC in Niger, an SPN in Ghana, a BSC in Ivory Coast and a CTN in Nigeria.

SCK Representation is an authorized ECTN, BESC, CTN and cargo tracking note provider for shipments to African countries, filing from Istanbul since 2001.