Guinea-Bissau is a country located in West Africa, it is bordered by Senegal to the north, Guinea to the south and east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The capital and largest city is Bissau. The official language is Portuguese, and the population is around 2 million. Guinea-Bissau has a diverse culture with influences from the indigenous tribes, European colonizers, and the African diaspora.
According to the circular dated 08/08/2011, Guinea Bissau Shippers’ Council (Conselho Nacional De Carregadores – Guinea Bissau / CNC-GB) mandated authorized agents to issue ECTN (CEE) certificates. ECTN certificates (CEE – Certificado Eletronico De Embarque) can be obtained from SCK Representation for the freights heading towards Guinea-Bissau. If the goods are carried by sea, the ECTN (CEE) regulations for the host country of the port should also be reviewed to avoid delays and penalties at the destination.
CEE is a Portuguese shortening of ‘Certificado Eletronico De Embarque’, which is translated as ‘Electronic Cargo Tracking Note’ (ECTN) in English.
How can you get the ECTN (CEE) Certificate?
The following documents are required for Guinea-Bissau ECTN (CEE) certificate:
- Bill of Lading (Applications can be made with a draft copy. Original will be needed for validation)
- Commercial Invoice
- Freight Invoice (it is not necessary if the freight value is indicated on Commercial Invoice)
- Customs Declaration
To start the certification process, you should share PDF copies of the documents through [email protected]. 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 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 (CEE) certificate take?
The process usually takes around a week as the regulation applied by Guinea-Bissau authorities is so strict. The supplied documents must be coherent to have the final certificate validated.
ECTN (CEE) 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 after receiving the ECTN (CEE) reference?
You have 5 days after receiving ECTN (CEE) 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.
Can the process be completed 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 Guinea-Bissau?
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.
Can I use the same CEE number for various shipments?
No, CEE is unique and limited to a single shipment. Every cargo needs its own CEE number that has been verified.
Responsibility
The responsibility to get the ECTN/CEE 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.