Chad – BESC Certificate

Chad is a landlocked country located in North-Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. The capital and largest city is N’Djamena. The official languages are French and Arabic, and the population is around 15 million. Chad has a diverse culture with influences from various ethnic groups, including the Sara, Toubou, and Zaghawa.

Understanding the ECTN for Chad Shipments: The “Electronic Cargo Tracking Note” (ECTN) is an indispensable document for every cargo shipment to Chad. As an electronic certificate, it verifies the cargo’s authenticity and ensures compliance with Chad’s import regulations.

Chad BESC Certificate Issuance Update (2016): The Chad Shippers Council (COC-TCHAD) introduced a significant update in 2016 through Article n° 2 of Joint Decree n° 039/PR/PM/MID/2016, designating “SCK Representation” as the official agent for issuing Chad BESC certificates in Turkey, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. BESC, short for ‘Bordereau électronique de Suivi de Cargaison’, is known in English as the ‘Electronic Cargo Tracking Note’ (ECTN), a critical document for cargo authenticity and regulatory compliance.

How can you get the BESC Certificate?

The following documents are required for the Chad BESC certificate:

• Bill of lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Freight invoice (if the freight amount is not mentioned on the commercial Invoice)

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.

Translation: Must be validated at the latest 2 days before arrival at destination or departure of the ship.

How long does it take to get approval?

Once you provide all required documents, a draft of the BESC certificate will be shared with your side. Next, we need your confirmation on the draft and payment. Afterwards, the certificate will be submitted for the approval of the Chad authorities. This process usually takes a few days, but a period of a week should be expected in planning.

If your freight is in transit via Cameroon, you do not need to get a Cameroon BESC certificate. Cameroon BESC is only required for importing goods. You only need to issue Chad’s BESC certificate for your shipment.

Which name should be indicated on the bill of lading as a discharge port?

Douala and Kribi are the main ports of Cameroon, and all maritime traffic in Chad is handled by these ports. Doula is an essential waypoint for the Central African Republic and Chad. If the port of discharge is indicated as Douala or Kribi on the bill of lading, you need to check the shipment’s final destination to be sure if it is in transit to these landlocked countries.

What if the exporter ships vehicles (chassis) and they are loaded in containers? How should the certificate be issued?

As per the declaration of Chad authorities, the shipment type should be indicated as a container if the vehicles (chassis) are loaded in containers. In this case, container references should be indicated properly on the bill of lading. Otherwise, ECTN certificates should be issued as RO/RO shipments.

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 complete 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.

Do I need to get BESC if my shipment is in transit through Cameroon to Chad?

A shipment traveling via Cameroon with Chad as its final destination only needs to obtain an ECTN certificate for Chad.

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 side will be responsible for the loss.

Shipments to Chad without ECTN will be subject to a 100% penalty fee.

As per regulation 056/PR/MITDC/2019 published by The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Chad, starting from January 1, 2020, all cargo exported to or imported from the Republic of Chad must be covered by Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN / BESC).

Discharge of the cargo not covered by a BESC certificate will be subject to a penalty fee of 100% of the value of the BESC certificate. Additionally, your importer may suffer from additional delays and storage costs.

As the only official agent for Turkey, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, we can swiftly provide you with the ECTN certificate for Chad.

056:PR:MIT:DC:2019