South Sudan ECTN Certificate

South Sudan is a country located in East Africa. It is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and the Central African Republic to the west. The capital and largest city is Juba. The official language is English, and the population is around 12 million. South Sudan has a diverse culture with influences from the indigenous tribes, European colonizers, and the African diaspora.

When transporting goods by sea, it’s crucial to review the ECTN regulations of the destination port’s host country to prevent delays and penalties. Specifically, for goods arriving at ports like Mombasa, Massawa, Port Sudan, Dar es Salaam, or Djibouti en route to South Sudan, an ECTN certificate for South Sudan suffices, as these ports do not require a BESC certificate for transit freights.

BESC, short for ‘Bordereau électronique de Suivi de Cargaison’, is the French equivalent of the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN), a vital document for tracking cargo shipments.

How can you get the ECTN Certificate?

The following documents are required for the South Sudan ECTN certificate:

• Bill of lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Customs Declaration
• Freight Invoice (it is not necessary if the commercial invoice includes the freight value)

To start the certification process, you should share PDF copies of the documents through sck@scktr.com. 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 certificate take?

The process usually takes around a week as the regulation applied by South Sudanese authorities is so strict. In addition, the documents that are supplied must be coherent to have the final certificate validated.

ECTN 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 of receiving the ECTN reference?

You have 5 days after receiving the ECTN 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.

Is it possible to complete the process 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.

Can I have the validation if the final destination mentioned on the export declaration is changed from another destination to South Sudan?

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 particular case. The document’s other details, including package amount, weight, etc., should remain the same as the previous one.

What is ECTN?

ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is another form of waiver document also known as Bordereau de Suivi Cargaison (BSC) or Loading Certificate.

These waiver certificates are recognized maritime documents that detail the cargo and its transportation between ports. This is a requirement from several African countries that lets them successfully monitor, control, and manage their import and export trade. Each CTN must be submitted and verified at the loading port and is essential for import customs clearance at the port of entry. Before the presentation of the final CTN, the local Customs will prohibit any shipments that are not covered by a valid CTN and impose the necessary fee.

The full details of the exporter and importer, the shipping method (containerized, groupage, etc.), the type and value of the products being transported, the name of the vessel, and the freight bill for the shipment are all included in the waiver documents. These waivers must be submitted before the cargo reaches the port of discharge and are handled by the importer or exporter. The amount of time and effort required to validate the certificate varies greatly. If you miss the certification deadline, your cargo will suffer penalties, and you won’t receive an ECTN.

Can I use the same ECTN number for various shipments?

No, ECTN is unique and limited to a single shipment. Every cargo needs its own ECTN number that has been verified.

Responsibility

The responsibility to get the ECTN/BESC certificate is on the shipper’s side. Transports without a certificate are penalized, and the shipper will be responsible for the loss.