Liberia BESC Certificate — The Complete Guide
How the Liberia BESC certificate works: issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply.
This guide covers the BESC certificate for shipments to Liberia — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see Liberia BESC.
Overview
The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BESC) — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to Liberia. It is issued by Liberia National Port Authority (NPA). Requirement status: Mandatory.
Sample BESC certificate
A Liberia BESC we filed, with the customer fields masked. Use it to check the layout, where the authority stamp sits and where the reference number is printed.
Discharge ports
- Monrovia
Required documents
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Customs Declaration
Application process
1. Send your documents
Share PDF copies of the required documents via sck@scktr.com, or upload them through the application form. There is no need to send hard copies for the issuance of BESC certificates.
2. Draft is prepared
Once complete, consistent documents arrive, a draft is prepared for your confirmation. A file specialist checks the shipment details against the documents before anything is filed.
3. Confirm the draft
Check every field on the draft — consignee, ports, weights, values and container references. Final documents must be submitted without further amendments; corrections after validation are charged separately.
4. Filing and validation
The confirmed file is submitted to the issuing authority for validation. The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be shown on documents prepared before that point.
5. Certificate delivered
The validated certificate is sent to you and can accompany the cargo to the destination port.
Timeline
- Processing time: a few days
- Validity: One validated BESC per Bill of Lading
The exact cut-off depends on the destination and the vessel schedule; confirm the deadline for your shipment with our team before filing.
Special rules
Validation deadline. Since 2018, per ministerial directive, Liberia has mandated a BESC for all imports, enforced by the National Port Authorities. The BESC number must be listed on both the Bill of Lading and the Cargo Manifest.
Non-compliance. The absence of a BESC number results in penalties, alongside demurrage and storage fees, and cargo may not be cleared; the shipper is responsible for the loss.
Frequently asked questions
How can you get a Liberia BESC Certificate?
Submit PDF copies of the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice, and Customs Declaration via sck@scktr.com. Application can be made with a draft Bill of Lading, but the original is needed for validation.
Which name should be indicated as the discharge port on the bill of lading?
Monrovia is the main port of Liberia and handles all maritime traffic. If the port of discharge is indicated as Monrovia, you need to issue a certificate for Liberia.
How long does it take to get approval?
A draft is issued in a day if all documents are complete; as all approvals are handled in the main office in Monrovia, the process may take about a week.
Can I use the same certificate number for various shipments?
No, the BESC is unique and limited to a single shipment. Every cargo needs its own verified number.
Ready to file? Apply for a BESC certificate or go back to the Liberia BESC procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.