Central African Republic ECTN Certificate

The Central African Republic (C.A.R.) is a landlocked country located in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, the Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and Cameroon to the west. The capital and largest city is Bangui. The official languages are French and Sango, and the population is around 4.7 million. The Central African Republic has a diverse culture with influences from the indigenous tribes, European colonizers, and the African diaspora.

Navigating ECTN Regulations for Sea Freight: When shipping by sea, it’s crucial to check the ECTN requirements of the port’s host country to prevent delays and penalties. For goods transiting through Douala, Cameroon, en route to the Central African Republic, note that a C.A.R. ECTN certificate suffices—Cameroon exempts transit freight from needing a BESC certificate. BESC, or ‘Bordereau électronique de Suivi de Cargaison’, stands for ‘Electronic Cargo Tracking Note’ (ECTN) in English, underscoring the importance of cargo tracking and compliance.

How can you get the ECTN Certificate?

The following documents are required for the Central African Republic ECTN certificate:

• Bill of lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Customs Declaration
• Freight Invoice (it is not necessary if the Commercial Invoice includes the freight value)

To start the certification process, you should share PDF copies of the documents through sck@scktr.com. There is no need to send hard copies for the issuance of BESC certificates. Please be sure to share the final documents, which will not have any more amendments later on in the process. A penalty fee will occur for the modifications after validating the certificates.

How long does receiving a validated copy of the ECTN certificate take?

The process typically takes around a week as the regulation by Central African Republic authorities is so strict. In addition, the documents that are supplied must be coherent to have the final certificate validated.

ECTN number will be created after “Pre-validation”. Any change in information and documentation after “Pre-validation” will result in a penalty fee.

What happens if the certificate cannot be validated within five days of receiving the ECTN reference?

You have 5 days after receiving the ECTN reference to forward the original B.L. with place and date of issue, shipped on board date mentioned on, signed and stamped.

Otherwise, the system will automatically cancel the certificate, and there will be a penalty fee to recover the certificate.

Can an export declaration be used for multiple shipments?

You can present the same declaration only if all the applications and submissions are completed simultaneously. Otherwise, there is no probability of receiving the validated copy.

Is it possible to complete the process if there is a mismatch in shipment documents?

All the documents’ details must be the same to get a validated copy of the certificate. Otherwise, the certificate will be rejected after pre-validation, and you will be asked to revise documents to receive the certificate. There will be no refund until you supply coherent documents. Plus, there will be a penalty fee for uploading new documents.

Can I have the validation if the final destination mentioned on the export declaration is changed from another destination to the Central African Republic?

Authorities’ confirmation is required if the shipment’s destination is changed after the vessel’s departure. Their approach to the issue is generally positive as this is a special case. The document’s other details, including package amount, weight, etc., should remain the same as the previous one.

What is ECTN?

ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is another form of waiver document also known as Bordereau de Suivi Cargaison (BSC) or Loading Certificate.

These waiver certificates are recognized maritime documents that detail the cargo and its transportation between ports. This is a requirement from several African countries that lets them successfully monitor, control, and manage their import and export trade. Each CTN must be submitted and verified at the loading port and is essential for import customs clearance at the port of entry. Before the presentation of the final CTN, the local Customs will prohibit any shipments that are not covered by a valid CTN and impose the necessary fee.

The full details of the exporter and importer, the shipping method (containerized, groupage, etc.), the type and value of the products being transported, the name of the vessel, and the freight bill for the shipment are all included in the waiver documents. These waivers must be submitted before the cargo reaches the port of discharge and are handled by the importer or exporter. The amount of time and effort required to validate the certificate varies greatly. If you miss the certification deadline, your cargo will suffer penalties, and you won’t receive an ECTN.

Can I use the same ECTN number for various shipments?

No, ECTN is unique and limited to a single shipment. Every cargo needs its own ECTN number that has been verified.

Responsibility

The responsibility to get the ECTN/BESC certificate is on the shipper’s side. Transports without a certificate are penalized, and the shipper will be responsible for the loss.

This page is for your information only; the procedure may change according to your loading details. Controls are conducted according to the effective regulations of that time.