The Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN), also known as Bordereau de Suivi Cargaison (BSC) and other names depending on the country, is an official marine document that contains information relating to the cargo and its movement between ports.
This document is required to be submitted to the shippers’ councils in most countries of Africa. Every cargo exported to these countries, whether it is commercial, personal or charity, must have this ECTN certificate.
It is simply impossible to clear the cargo from the customs zone without a valid certificate covering the whole of the shipment.
The shipper or his agent or the forwarder is responsible to secure the ECTN from several authorized representatives. In most countries, it must be validated at least 5 days before the vessel arrives at the port.
The Cargo Tracking Note number must be shown on all documentation related to the cargo shipped under that note. The shipper and/or forwarder should provide the certificate number to the ocean carrier at the loading port (Loading agent) for inclusion in the manifest and bill of lading.
CTN Requirements
In order to issue the ECTN, you will need the following documents:
- Bill of lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Freight Invoice (Mandatory if the freight value is not mentioned in the commercial invoice)
Also, depending on the country, they might ask for other specific documents, like the following:
- Documento Unico (DU)
- Certificate of Insurance
- Packing list
- Certificate of Origin
- Export Customs Declaration
The agent will tell you exactly what documents you need, and also when you have to deliver them.Â
CTN Application Process
The process to acquire the certificate is very simple. Here is the steps you need take to complete application:
- You need to send the scanned copies of the required documents to the agent
- The agent will then issue an invoice and provide you a draft copy of the ECTN certificate for your approval of the shipment details
- Once the draft is approved and the agent has received the funds they will pre-validate the certificate and deliver the ECTN number.
- You will receive the ECTN number on the validated soft copy of the certificate soon after.Â
Important Notes
The ECTN certificate is mandatory for all sea-borne cargo to countries where it is required, being obligatory for containers, bulk, RORO, and others. Besides, there are certain countries that require CTN for other types of transportation.
You will need to apply for BSC and FERI to Madagascar and DR Congo respectively if you have air-shipment to these countries. In terms of the Road shipments, FERI is required for all consignment by road.Â
Below you can find the countries (in alphabetical order) that require this certificate, what name they use for it, and a reference for the agent that can help you issuing the waiver:
- Algeria – ECTN
- Angola – CNCA
- Benin – BESC
- Burkina Faso – ECTN
- Burundi – ECTN
- Chad – ECTN
- Cameroon – BESC
- Central African Republic – ECTN
- Democratic Republic of Congo – FERI
- Egypt — ACID
- Equatorial Guinea – ECTN
- Gabon – BIETC
- Ghana — CTN
- Guinea Conakry – ECTN
- Guinea-Bissau – CEE
- Ivory Coast – BSC
- Libya — ECTN
- Liberia — CTN
- Mali – BSC
- Madagascar – BSC
- Niger – BSC
- Nigeria – ICTN
- Republic of Congo — ECTN
- Senegal – BSC
- Sierra Leone – ENS
- South Sudan – ECTN
- Togo – ECTN
All the information which have you shared with us is really very helpful for me. Thanks
dear Hariesh;
why only African countries ?
This kind of certificate is used only in those African countries. Other countries may have a similar certificate, but with another name, description, procedure, and issuing agency.
What country are you interested in?
Could you please let me know who is the agent in Thailand for Issuing CTN no/ BESC for Niger ?
Thanks you in advance!
Hello Manorom,
You don’t need an agent in your country to issue the CTN certificate for Niger. You can apply for it online, and approximately 24 hours after you send the required documents you will have the certificate ready. If you want more information about the documentation you can check this page https://getctn.com/niger-bsc where you can get it quickly.
do the shipment to Beirut requires CTN No.? please advise.
Cargo Tracking Notes and Loading Certificates and the like are simply a big con-job. Notice how they only exist for third-world African countries, where exporters to these countries are charged a fee for a totally useless and pointless certificate, I wonder how much of that fee then gets paid as a kickback to officials in those countries via tax havens.
Dear Jhangeer,
I also need the address of the agency for one of my shipments from Sialkot to DRC. Did you got the address? If so, kindly send me at my E-Mail i.d. = a.s.tanwar@gmail.com
AZAD
Hello,
I’m based in china How can i be a ctn certificate supplier
If you can please inform me about the process.
Hello,
I am from Bangladesh a freight forwarder, cargo will go Ghana and need CTN number in Bangladesh for shipper
Please advice contact detail in Bangladesh.
I NEED FERI CERTIFICATE FOR PAKISTAN SHIPMENTS KINDLY ADVICE THE AGENCIES NAME WHO CAN ISSUE FERI CERTIFCATE FOR PAKISTAN’S SHIPMENTS BESIDES ITR DUBAI
Shipping to Madagascar will need to have the BSC cert as well
This list is cool though , does it provides all shipment details and Live tracking ?
Hi,
How do i get CTN for goods leaving Nigeria for Guinea Conakry.
Also what is the rate for alcoholic beverages(20ft container).
We provide Ghana CTN to clients all around the world. Please contact ctn@getctn.com and get your ECTN in just couple of hours.
Hi
May I have a list of agencies that issue CTN ( Cargo Tracking Notes ) for Benin
Hello,
I am from India cargo will go Ghana and need ctn number in India for shipper
Please advice contact detail in India
Can I get CTN from dubai
we need CTN for Ghana, Kindly help me to obtain the number
Please i am an agent at the trma port,my shipper request CTN number that is difficult for me to get,can i get help
Ghana is just recently included in the above list.
Please am a freight Forwarder in Ghana currently, my shipper request for CTN which i find it difficult to provide as per the request.
Kindly help me out .
please contact info@maritradeusa.com
How do I get ctn for goods coming to Nigeria.
Hello Manaadiar, Your answer to my question is not clear. Who is the shipper? Me or the company shipping my container? How does the average lay person who is not in the shipping business know how to obtain a CTN number? This is very confusing.
If you are exporting the goods, then you are the shipper.. The company that is shipping your container is the carrier.. You could appoint/consult a freight forwarder in your country who may be able to assist with your issue..
Who is responsible for getting the CTN number? I just loaded a 20ft container, gave all the items in the container, etc..and then my shipping company asked me for a CTN number. I called my agent in Benin and he says the CTN number should be obtained by the shipper and not by the clearing agent. My shipping company seems to have no clue what they are doing. What are my options???
CTN should be obtained at the port of loading by the shipper using the agent that issues the CTN for the specific country..
I required ECTN issuing agent for Cotonou I have shipment from Nhava Sheva to Cotonou (Benin), Please advise which
agent issues ECTN in Mumbai
I required ECTN issuing agent for Cotonou I have shipment from Nhava Sheva to Cotonou (Benin), Please advise which
agent issues ECTN in Mumbai
What about Sierra Leone
Dear Sir,
Is the transit shipment need the ECTN when our cargo in Abidjan??
Dear Sir,
Is CTN necessary when our cargo to Abidjan, Cote D’lvoire ?
I have to ship 20×20′ box fm La Spezia port / IT to CFR Onne’ port.
Can you kindly let me know if CTN Certificate must be issued in italy and an Agent in Italy to whom I can ask the relative charges pls?
many thks
Alessandra
Pls check with your consignee in Onne first if CTN is required for Nigeria still..
can you please confirm whether you can provide ctn number for LCL cargo mumbai to togo . if not then who will provide it in mumbai.
can you please confirm whether you can provide ctn number for abidjan. if not then who will provide it in mumbai.
PLease can you advise if there is a South African agent who arranges ECTN for Sierra Leone
I required ECTN issuing agent for Cotonou I have shipment from Nhava Sheva to Cotonou (Benin), Please advise which
agent issues ECTN in Mumbai
Do you have anything on Cargo Tracking Note requirements for Zimbabwe?
As far as I know there is no requirement of CTN for Zimbabwe..
Can you help us who will issue the ECTN certificate from Mumbai India… For BURUNDI country…
Dear Mr Hariesh
this certificate CTN , i should buy it from agent or freight forwording to import in Goods to the above counrty that you refer
that mean i have to deal with freight forwarding that have this certificate to import the goods or only buy the certificate , not deal with carrier direct
Thanks to confirm or i misunderstanding
Hassan
Hello Hassan, for each CTN there is an issuing agent appointed by that country’s shippers council only for the purpose of issuing this CTN.. Anyone that needs a CTN must approach this agent only.. This agent is independent of the carrier or freight forwarder.. They are a separate entity..
HI,
I am Thang, from Vietnam. I have a shipment from Haiphong port to Lago, Nigeria, load on CMA-CGM
Carrier requests to advise CTN but I do not know I will contact who to have it in Vietnam.
Pls help & advise me if you know.
Thank very much for your kind support.
Best regards,
Bui Van Thang
Hi, I have a sea shipment ( container) from Malaysia to Burkina Faso and wonder if anyone can helps to advise any ECTN agent/representative that I can contact around here –
Hi, all, we´re very experience with waivers issuance to any african countries and can assist you offering same from anywhere in the world. Just drop a msg to waiversao@bws.dk! Will be pleased to assist!
Hi, I wonder to know, who is the enteti in Bangkok, Thailand for issue the CTN for shipped to TOGO
Hello Wannee, you can contact
Seaborne Logistics & Services Co. Ltd
31 Soi Rimtangduan 2 , Sukhumvit 62, Bangchak, Phrakanong 10260 Bangkok
THAILAND
Phone: +6627159888
hi we have a shipment 12x40OTIG ex SIN TO PORT GENTIL. Our customer is asking us to fill out the ECTN for them and one of the requirement is CARGO MANIFEST NUMBER. Shipment was booked with CMA and we ask them for this info, but they say they don’t have it. Where can we get this information?
Sierra Leone, West Africa
I need to know the the contact of a company issuing ctn in Korea.
Hope you can help.
Hello Mariama, CTN for which country..??
Hi all,
Can you pls advise on the following: we have a party of goods approaching Republic of Congo as a part of LCL. Our forwarder’s agent issue ECTN for the whole container listing goods inside.
And the consignee denies that ECTN saying it’s not correct and they will be fined.
Shipping line insists they did everything correctly.
appreciate your help.
Thanks!
Hi,
We have made a shipment to Congo.
Is the ECTN number and Ferri number same ????
yes they are the same thing. there are just acronyms for the same thing in two different languages.
There is also Cargo Tracking Note for GABON, they call it BIETC (Bordereau D’identification Electronique de Traçabilité de Cargaison : French)
You can visit http://www.cgcworld.com;
here is a document for help : http://www.cgcworld.com/fichiers/fichierslies/GUIDE%20UTILISATEUR%20ANGLAIS.pdf
the big idea about their agent is : you choose an agent according to departure of cargo, that means the origin of the cargo;
you have just to have account at cgcworld.com and their you fixe the origin and automatically they give the actual agents that you can contact; generally CGC representative Europe is the most available agent for most country.
here is a list of other documents, you will need the agent liste, because you’ll need their emails to ask them for confirming your order to purchase the Note
http://www.cgcworld.com/dossier.asp?DOSS_CLE=279 —> choose this file “MANDATAIRES_CGC_ACTUALISE_NOV 2011.xls ”
Good luck every one; I hope I gave enough information about this one, and pleased to be one of this community
thanks Hariesh for this blog 🙂
Hi,
We have an account in ccc.cg, but we need an agent to confirm our account in order to prepare ECTN for Congo; we usually use it for cargo departed from Malaysia.
Any help pls?
Hi Meryam, recommend you contact the CTN service provider..
PLEASE CALL SEANAUTIC MARINE CANADA 514-287-1812
THEY HANDLE THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO(POINTE NOIRE)
FERI (CTN)
Thanks for the info Ryan..
Thank you 🙂
Does a BSC cert for Cote D’Ivoire cover multiple shipments for the same consignor / consignee – or does a BSC cert need to be raised for every individual shipment?
YOU WILL NEED ONE BSC PER BL
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY HELP
http://WWW.AFRICACTN.COM
RYAN@AFRICACTN.COM
281-477-3233
Dear Chris,
BSC Number will be issued for each and every B.L. you only use it for one shipment
You can contact me on : josephnassif2011@outlook.com if you need a BSC .
Hi Guys,
I need this Cargo Tracking Note for Benin / Cotonou from Turkey. I load the goods with CMA, but have no idea where should I go to get issued this document.
Note: I contacted with Mitchell Cotts Maritime- Benin, but have not received a reply yet.
I appreciate if you recommend an another place that I can get this document.
Thanks,
Hi,
You may contact us for getting CTN certificate.
Please see the below link. This page shows which countries do and do not requires CTNs. if there are any questions, feel free to email or call me. ryan@africactn.com or 281-477-3233
http://www.africactn.com/Other.html
Madagascar
I wonder to know, who is the enteti in Portugal for issue the CTN
Hi Rui, depends on which country you want the CTN for..
When exporting to Burkina Faso, when should one give shipping line ECTN reference number? before vessel sail or after vessel sail. can someone assist
Hello Thomas, I would say earlier the better.. You should do it at the same time as the bill of lading because you need to show the bill of lading number in the ECTN, so as soon as you get the BL Number from the line you can apply for the ECTN..
understood from above that for shipment to Ivory Coast ECTN and BSC are same thus will have no issue upon arrival at destination. Thx to confirm as my Management Team have some doubt.
Can you please let me know who would be issuing CTN for cago leaving port of Vancouver, Canada, I have three containers going to Senegal. Thanks for any info you can provide me.
we will be the issuing agent for the BSC. please visit http://www.africactn.com for the downloadable application and procedures. please give me a call 281-477-3233. my name is Ryan Russell
Hello Catherine, for all shipments to Senegal worldwide, the CTNs are issued by Antaser Afrique BVBA via their worldwide network of agents.. You can send a msg to info@antaser.com to find out who their agents are in Vancouver.. The closest office seems to be in Houston..
Well there you go.. Ryan Russell confirmed he is the guy.. 🙂
I can apply and issue the BSC, tell me the size of the containers, mail me on dubaiafrica@yahoo.com
Mahesh, this certificate cannot be issued by anyone.. Commercial International Services is the authorised agent in the North America region for certificates to Senegal among other African countries..
can you please let me know who is the agent in Karachi, Pakistan for Issuing Ferri certificate requirement of Congo
hi,
can anyone help me to make a BSC certificate for Ivory coast ? for 1 container of lubricants ?
Sunil, as mentioned in this site, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)- Issued via their website http://www.oic.ci is the only option for you to secure a BSC for Ivory Coast..
Who can issue ECTN for Malawi, I arrange shipment thru MSC, cargo loaded at Dubai going to Malawi via Beira/Nacala Mozambique port.
Who issue CTN / BSC number for ABIDJAN from India
I can register and update BSC for Ivory Coast, it costs USD 75 for registration and importer has to pay Euro 17 per TEU at destination, if intrested , please mail me dubaiafrica@yahoo.com
My name is Mahesh
Hello,
We Can Issue That If You Are Intrested Sir Contact Us: +225 04602222
REGARDS
Mer-Invest Transit
Abidjan, ivory Coast.
hai,
who can issue ECTN for the shipments to Tanzania from dubai , plz contact me: 971 507370993
CNCA CERTIFICATE AGENT IN DUBAI UAE
A very similar case goes for Democratic Republic of Congo. The document is named FERI (Fiche Eléctronique de Renseignements à l’Importation) not CTN. I have been using the services of ITR Dubai http://itrdubai.com/ for such services.
Dear Sir,
Please confirm me what is the agent name in Pakistan, Dubai or Bangladesh can issue the CNCA certificate for shipment to Luanda Angola.
Thanks in Advance.
Dear Sir,
Please advise what the agent name in Vietnam can issue CTN for shipment to Cotonou
Thanks much
Please note that DIAMOND SHIPPING LLC (DUBAI) are authorized to issue CTN’s for 8 Countries which is mentioned below. NOTE : Cargo which will be loading from UAE.
1)Nigeria 2) Senegal 3)Niger 4) Mali 5) RCA 6)Guinea 7) Guinea Bissau and 8)Cameron
Also note that for Nigerian shipments now CTN’s are not required.
can you please let me know who is the agent in Conakry and how can I get CTN? Thank so much!
Pls visit – http://www.atpmsgroup.com/?Guinea-Introduces-Bordereau-de
benin also need CTN for clearance?
Hi Noormah,yes it is required and can be obtained online – please visit http://www.phoenix-europe.fr or http://www.onlinecargotracking.com..
Can you let me know who does the CTN for Burkina Faso in India.
Thanks for the information. But Diamond shipping issues CTN only for Nigeria. not Cotonou region. I got to know that no body will issue CTN for Cotonou in Sri lanka. But you can get this CTN no online from India or pakistan.
Thanks..
Diamond shipping services issue CTN for NIGER
can you please let me know who is the agent in Sri lanka for Issuing CTN no for Cotonou, Benin
C.N.C.A.-Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola
C.N.C.A. is the Angolan government agency that regulates the implementation of Decree No. 19/94, dated 28 January 1994, published in the Statue Book of Angola D.R., May 1994.
The following is a summary of the National Council of Angolan Shippers’ regulation:
All cargo destined to Angola has to have an import license and every bill of lading has to be accompanied by a loading certificate.
Only the C.N.C.A. or its agents have the authority to issue loading certificates.
Each bill of lading must have a corresponding loading certificate.
Without a loading certificate, cargo will not be cleared.
Each loading certificate has a specific serial number that is duly signed, dated and stamped by the authorized C.N.C.A. agent.
To receive a loading certificate, the shipper has to pay the following Harbor Data Processing and Loading Certificate Fees:
20′ Container US$100.00/container
40′ Container US$200.00/container
Bulk/conventional US$5.00 per w/m
Loading Certificate fees US$60.00 per bill of lading
The above charges have to be collected at the moment that the cargo is loaded.
Penalties for failure to comply with these regulations can result in a fine of US$5,000.00 per incident and a doubling of CNCA FEES.
One such office in India issuing CNCA is as below
Dolphin Chartering Services Pvt Ltd
dolphin@dolphinchart.com
DIRECT NO: 022-28368827
PHONE NOS:67105905,67105906, 67105907, 67105908