Mali BSC Certificate — The Complete Guide
How the Mali BSC certificate works: issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply.
This guide covers the BSC certificate for shipments to Mali — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see Mali BSC.
Overview
The BSC — Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BESC) — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to Mali. It is issued by Mali National Shippers Council (MNSC). Requirement status: Mandatory.
As Mali is a landlocked country, an additional BESC/ECTN is required in the country where the port of arrival is located. Cargo mainly transits via Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Dakar (Senegal); no loading certificate is required for freights via Abidjan.
Sample BSC certificate
A Mali BSC 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
- Abidjan
- Conakry
- Dakar
- Cotonou
- Tema
Required documents
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
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 BSC 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 BSC 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 BSC 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. The BSC must be presented within 5 days of the vessel’s departure, and no later than 5 days before it arrives at the port of discharge. As of 15/02/2020, BSC issuance is no longer possible at the borders, so the BSC must be requested and issued at origin.
Non-compliance. Missing, late, or inaccurate BSC submissions are subject to fines, including the BSC cost and additional MNSC fees. Cargo not covered by a BESC is regularised at a maximum rate of five times the cost at origin.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get approval?
Once all required documents are provided, a draft is shared for your confirmation and payment, then submitted to the Malian authorities. This usually takes a few days, but a week should be expected in planning.
Which name should be indicated on the bill of lading as a discharge port?
Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Conakry (Guinea) and Dakar (Senegal) are the main ports used for imports transited to Mali. Cotonou (Benin) and Tema (Ghana) can also be used; Benin ECTN is required for transit cargo, whereas Ghana has no ECTN application.
Do I need a BSC certificate if my shipment is in transit through Senegal to Mali?
A shipment with a final destination of Mali in transit through Senegal only needs to get a BSC certificate for Mali.
Can I use the same BSC number for various shipments?
No, BSC is unique and limited to a single shipment. Every cargo needs its own verified BSC number.
Ready to file? Apply for a BSC certificate or go back to the Mali BSC procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.