What Is an ECTN Certificate?

An ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a mandatory cargo-tracking document for sea freight to many African countries. Before loading, it declares the bill of lading, invoice and customs data to the destination country’s shippers’ council. Without a validated ECTN number, cargo cannot clear customs at the destination port.

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What does ECTN stand for?

ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. In some countries the same document is called BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) in French, or simply CTN / BSC. The name changes, but the purpose is identical: to declare shipment data to the destination country’s shippers’ council before loading.

Why is an ECTN required?

The ECTN lets the destination country’s customs and port authorities verify the value, volume and freight of incoming cargo in advance. Without a valid ECTN number:

  • Cargo is held at the destination port and cannot clear customs.
  • Customs fines and penalties apply (often multiples of the freight).
  • Demurrage and delay charges accumulate.

ECTN, BESC, CTN and other names

The same cargo tracking note is known by different names depending on the country:

Abbreviation Full name Example countries
ECTN Electronic Cargo Tracking Note Burkina Faso – ECTN / URN, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, South Sudan, Togo
BSC Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone
CTN Cargo Tracking Note Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Somalia
BESC Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons Benin, Cameroon, Chad
ACD Advance Cargo Declaration Kenya, Sudan, Yemen
CNCA Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola Angola
FERI Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l’Importation Democratic Republic of Congo
ACID Advance Cargo Information Declaration Egypt
BIETC Bordereau d’Identification Électronique et de Traçabilité des Cargaisons Gabon

How to get an ECTN certificate

  1. 1
    Send the documents

    Provide the bill of lading (B/L), commercial invoice and export customs declaration.

  2. 2
    Check & draft

    We check the documents for consistency and issue the ECTN draft.

  3. 3
    Council validation

    We validate the draft with the destination country’s shippers’ council.

  4. 4
    Validated certificate

    The validated ECTN number and certificate are emailed to you.

The core documents required are: the bill of lading (B/L), commercial invoice and export customs declaration. Some countries require extra documents — see the country guide for details.

Countries that require an ECTN / BESC

Click your destination country to see its procedure and required documents:

Angola

CNCA

Benin

BESC

Burkina Faso – ECTN / URN

ECTN

Burundi

ECTN

Cameroon

BESC

Central African Republic

ECTN

Chad

BESC

Congo

ECTN

Democratic Republic of Congo

FERI

Djibouti

ECTN

Egypt

ACID

Equatorial Guinea

ECTN

Gabon

BIETC

Gambia

CTN

Ghana

CTN

Guinea

ECTN

Guinea-Bissau

ECTN

Ivory Coast

BSC

Kenya

ACD

Liberia

CTN

Libya

ECTN

Madagascar

BSC

Mali

BSC

Niger

BSC

Nigeria

CTN

Senegal

BSC

Sierra Leone

BSC

Somalia

CTN

South Sudan

ECTN

Sudan

ACD

Togo

ECTN

Yemen

ACD

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ECTN certificate?
An ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a mandatory cargo-tracking document for sea freight to many African countries. Before loading, it declares the bill of lading, invoice and customs data to the destination country’s shippers’ council. Without a validated ECTN number, cargo cannot clear customs at the destination port.
Where do I get an ECTN certificate?
An ECTN is issued by agents authorized on behalf of the destination country’s shippers’ council. SCK Representation has been an authorized agent since 2001, issuing ECTN, BESC and CTN certificates for over 25 African countries.
What is an ECTN number?
The ECTN number is the unique reference assigned to each validated cargo tracking note. It appears on the bill of lading and is verified by customs at the destination port.
What is the difference between ECTN, BESC and CTN?
They are the same cargo tracking note under different names by country. BESC is used in French-speaking countries (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon), CTN in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia, and ECTN in countries like Angola, Djibouti and South Sudan.
How long does it take to get an ECTN certificate?
Once complete, consistent documents arrive, the draft is issued the same day and the validated certificate is normally ready within 1–3 business days.
Is an ECTN certificate mandatory?
Yes. In countries that mandate an ECTN/BESC/CTN, cargo cannot be cleared without a valid certificate, exposing the shipment to port penalties, demurrage and delays.

Ready to get your ECTN certificate?

Send your documents and we’ll check your file and prepare the validated certificate.

Apply Now →