East Africa · Official cargo tracking document

South Sudan ECTN Certificate

Get a South Sudan ECTN certificate through SCK Representation. Validation typically takes about a week once your documents are consistent.

Avoid port penalties & demurrage Authorized agent since 2001 Documents pre-screened 4.9 · 118 Google reviews
ECTN At a glance
CertificateECTN
DestinationSouth Sudan
StatusMandatory
Processingabout a week
ValidityOne validated ECTN per Bill of Lading.
PortsMombasa, Massawa, Port Sudan, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti
AuthoritySouth Sudan National Shippers' Council
2001
Issuing tracking notes since
25+
African destinations served
Hours
Typical draft turnaround
1:1
Dedicated file specialist
The deadline that matters

Validate before the vessel sails

Documents must be submitted before the cargo reaches the port of discharge. You have 5 days after receiving the ECTN reference to forward the original Bill of Lading with place and date of issue and shipped-on-board date, signed and stamped.

Cost of non-compliance

No ECTN = fines & demurrage

If you miss the certification deadline your cargo will suffer penalties and you will not receive an ECTN. If the original Bill of Lading is not forwarded within 5 days the system automatically cancels the certificate and a penalty fee applies to recover it.

Regulatory mandate

Required Documents — South Sudan ECTN

Bill of Lading
Commercial Invoice
Customs Declaration
On video

South Sudan ECTN — short explainer

Transit & landlocked routing

If your cargo transits another country

For goods arriving at transit ports such as 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.

Country Guide

South Sudan ECTN: full requirements

Last Updated: 18 December 2025 – Regulations are subject to change.

For shipments heading to South Sudan, securing an ECTN certificate through SCK Representation is mandatory. Begin your application by submitting the required documents or completing the form on your own. The process, taking approximately a week, demands coherence in all documents. Post-departure destination changes require official authorization. As the shipper, it’s your duty to obtain the ECTN/BSC certificate; non-compliance could lead to penalties.

Highly efficient and dependable service provider for ECTN certificates.

Effortless process and professional service. They are the best choice for South Sudan ECTN documents.

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.

Regulations are subject to change, we recommend confirming the latest country-specific requirements with our team via email.

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.

SCK Meeting Photo

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.

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.

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.

Verified Compliance Review

This content is reviewed to ensure accuracy and consistency with ECTN (CTN, BESC, BSC, BIETC, FERI, ACID, ACD) procedures, based on current operational practices and applicable regulatory frameworks at the time of the last update.

Sample certificate

What a validated South Sudan ECTN looks like

A certificate 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.

Masked sample of a validated South Sudan ECTN certificate
Full guide

South Sudan ECTN: the complete guide

Issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply — in one page.

Read the South Sudan ECTN guide

Questions, answered

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you get the South Sudan ECTN certificate?
Share PDF copies of the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Customs Declaration, and Freight Invoice (unless the freight value is on the commercial invoice) via sck@scktr.com.
How long does receiving a validated ECTN certificate take?
Usually around a week, as South Sudanese regulation is strict. The supplied documents must be coherent for the certificate to be validated.
What happens if the certificate cannot be validated within five days of receiving the ECTN reference?
You have 5 days to forward the original signed and stamped Bill of Lading. Otherwise the system automatically cancels the certificate and a penalty fee applies to recover it.
Can I have validation if the final destination is changed to South Sudan?
Authorities' confirmation is required if the destination is changed after the vessel's departure; their approach is generally positive as this is a special case. Other details such as package amount and weight must remain the same as the previous submission.
Who is responsible for obtaining the ECTN/BESC certificate?
The responsibility lies with the shipper. Transports without a certificate are penalized, and the shipper is responsible for the loss.

Also shipping to other African ports?

Each destination has its own cargo tracking note. We handle them all under one roof.

Trusted by exporters and freight forwarders shipping from Türkiye to Africa

A few of the brands that rely on us for the ECTN, BESC and CTN documents their cargo needs.

DHL DHL
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SGS SGS
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OCETRA OCETRA
Africa Global Logistics Africa Global Logistics
Naxco Naxco
CCIS CCIS
Gulf First Shipping & Logistics Gulf First Shipping & Logistics
Globelink West Star Shipping Globelink West Star Shipping

Ready to get your South Sudan ECTN?

Send your documents. We check your file and issue the validated certificate your cargo needs to clear customs at the destination port.