Equatorial Guinea ECTN Certificate

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

What the Equatorial Guinean ECTN is

The ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is the pre-loading declaration Equatorial Guinea’s customs administration uses to see a shipment before it arrives. It records the cargo, its weight and value, the parties and the routing. Equatorial Guinea has required it on all imports since 2000, and it applies to every shipment brought in for commercial, business, diplomatic or personal purposes.

Required documents for the Equatorial Guinean ECTN

Send PDF copies to sck@scktr.com. Hard copies are not needed. Send final documents: a change made after validation carries an amendment fee.

How the Equatorial Guinean ECTN is issued

1. Send the documents. A draft Bill of Lading is enough to start.
2. Pre-screen. We check value, weight, container and party details against each other before anything is filed. Mismatched documents are the single most common reason a declaration is refused.
3. Draft issued. Normally the same working day once the file is complete and consistent.
4. Validation. The original Bill of Lading goes with the file for approval, normally within a few days.
5. Number onto the Bill of Lading. The validated ECTN reference travels with the shipping documents to the discharge port.

When to apply

Before loading. The certificate is obtained at the port of loading, and cargo that arrives at a port in Equatorial Guinea without one is penalised at destination.

How long an Equatorial Guinean ECTN is valid

One validated ECTN covers one Bill of Lading. It is not reusable: a second shipment, or a split Bill of Lading, needs its own validated number.

Who files the Equatorial Guinean ECTN

The shipper or the freight forwarder at origin obtains it from the authorized representative. Responsibility sits with the shipper, and the shipper carries the loss if the cargo travels uncovered.

What happens if cargo arrives without one

Freight not covered by a loading certificate is penalised at the destination port, and failure to present the ECTN on arrival can lead to severe penalties. An amendment fee also applies to changes made after the certificate has been validated.

What an Equatorial Guinean ECTN costs

Two parts: the tariff set by the issuing authority, which varies with cargo type, container count and tonnage, and our fee for preparing, filing and following the declaration through validation. We quote both as one figure once we have seen the shipment details — email sck@scktr.com.

Which ports it covers

Malabo, on Bioko, and Bata on the mainland, plus cargo discharged there for onward movement.

Other names for this document

ECTN is Equatorial Guinea’s name for this declaration. In neighbouring Central African markets it appears as a BESC in Cameroon, a BIETC in Gabon, an ECTN in the Republic of Congo and a FERI in the DR Congo.

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

Verified Compliance Review

This content is reviewed to ensure accuracy and consistency with ECTN (CTN, BESC, BSC, BIETC, FERI, ACID, ACD) procedures, based on current operational practices and applicable regulatory frameworks at the time of the last update.