Liberia BESC Certificate

SCK Representation is an authorized BESC, BESC, BESC and cargo tracking note provider for shipments to African countries, filing from Istanbul since 2001. SCK Representation is a recognized agent of the Liberia National Port Authority (NPA) and files the BESC certificates Liberian imports require.

What the Liberia BESC is

The BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is the pre-loading declaration that lets Liberian customs and the National Port Authority see a shipment before it arrives. Since 2018, per ministerial directive, Liberia has mandated a BESC for all imports, enforced by the National Port Authorities. For customs clearance the BESC number must be listed on both the Bill of Lading and the Cargo Manifest.

Required documents for the Liberia BESC

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

How the Liberia BESC is issued

1. Send the documents. A draft Bill of Lading is enough to start.
2. Pre-screen. We check values, weights, containers and party details against each other before filing.
3. Draft issued in a day once the file is complete and consistent.
4. Validation. All approvals are handled in the main office in Monrovia, so allow about a week.
5. Number onto the Bill of Lading and the Cargo Manifest. Both must carry it before the cargo is cleared.

When to apply

As soon as the Bill of Lading details are settled, and before loading. The certificate is issued at origin; once the vessel has sailed there is no way to add the number retrospectively without a penalty.

How long a Liberia BESC is valid

One validated certificate covers one Bill of Lading and one shipment. A split or reissued Bill of Lading needs its own number.

Who files the Liberia BESC

The shipper. Responsibility for obtaining the certificate sits with the shipper’s side; transports without a certificate are penalised and the shipper bears the loss.

What happens if cargo arrives without one

The absence of a BESC number results in penalties, alongside demurrage and storage fees, and the cargo may not be cleared at all until the file is regularised. The delay at Monrovia is usually more expensive than the penalty itself.

What a Liberia 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, filing and following the declaration through validation in Monrovia. We quote both as one figure once we have seen the shipment details — email sck@scktr.com.

Which port it covers

Monrovia handles Liberia’s maritime traffic. If the port of discharge on the Bill of Lading reads Monrovia, the shipment needs a Liberia BESC.

Other names for this document

BESC is the name printed on Liberia’s certificate; the same declaration goes by other names elsewhere. Along the same coast it appears as a CTN in Sierra Leone, a BESC in Guinea, a BSC in Ivory Coast, an SPN in Ghana and a CTN in the Gambia.

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 BESC (BESC, BESC, BESC, BIETC, FERI, ACID, BESC) procedures, based on current operational practices and applicable regulatory frameworks at the time of the last update.