If you ship cargo to certain African countries by sea, there's a document you need that most shippers outside of Africa-focused trade lanes have never heard of: the ECTN.
Miss it, and your container sits at the destination port. The consignee can't clear it. Demurrage charges pile up daily. And when you finally obtain the ECTN retroactively, you'll pay the standard fee plus a penalty that can reach 30% to 50% of the freight value.
The ECTN requirement catches first-time Africa shippers off guard because it's not a standard part of most countries' customs processes. It's a pre-shipment document required by specific destination countries, obtained at the origin, and validated before the vessel arrives.
ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. It is a mandatory pre-shipment document required by the customs authorities of certain countries — primarily in Africa — for all goods arriving by sea freight.
The ECTN contains information about the cargo, the shipper, the consignee, the carrying vessel, and the freight charges. It is issued electronically in the country of origin and validated before the vessel arrives at the destination port. At arrival, customs authorities verify the ECTN as part of the import clearance process.
Destination governments use ECTNs for several purposes:
ECTNs also generate fee revenue for the governments and agencies that issue them.
Different countries call the same document by different names:
| Acronym | Full Name | Where It's Used |
|---|---|---|
| ECTN | Electronic Cargo Tracking Note | General term, used across multiple countries |
| BESC | Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons | French-speaking African countries |
| CTN | Cargo Tracking Note | Some English-speaking countries |
| BSC | Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons | Alternative French term |
| FERI | Fiche Électronique de Renseignements à l'Importation | Democratic Republic of Congo |
Despite the different names, the document serves the same purpose and follows a similar process everywhere it's required.
As of 2026, the following countries require an ECTN or equivalent document for sea freight imports:
| Country | Document Name | Approximate Cost per B/L | Key Port(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | CNCA | $250–$400 | Luanda |
| Benin | ECTN/BESC | $180–$280 | Cotonou |
| Burkina Faso | ECTN/BESC | $200–$300 | Via Abidjan/Tema/Lomé/Cotonou |
| Cameroon | ECTN/BESC | $250–$450 | Douala, Kribi |
| Central African Republic | ECTN/BESC | $200–$350 | Via Douala/Pointe-Noire |
| Chad | ECTN/BESC | $200–$350 | Via Douala |
| Republic of Congo | ECTN/BESC | $200–$380 | Pointe-Noire |
| Côte d'Ivoire | BSC/BESC | $180–$350 | Abidjan |
| DR Congo | FERI | $200–$400 | Matadi |
| Gabon | BESC | $250–$400 | Libreville (Owendo) |
| Guinea | ECTN/CTN | $200–$350 | Conakry |
| Guinea-Bissau | ECTN | $250–$380 | Bissau |
| Libya | ECTN | Varies | Varies (inconsistent enforcement) |
| Madagascar | BSC | $180–$300 | Toamasina |
| Mali | ECTN/BESC | $200–$350 | Via Dakar/Abidjan/Lomé |
| Niger | ECTN/BESC | $200–$350 | Via Cotonou/Lomé |
| Senegal | ECTN/BESC | $180–$300 | Dakar |
| Sierra Leone | ECTN/CTN | $250–$400 | Freetown |
| Togo | ECTN/BESC | $180–$280 | Lomé |
Important note for landlocked countries: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, and Niger are landlocked. Their imports transit through neighboring countries' ports. In many cases, you need an ECTN for both the transit country and the destination country — doubling the cost and paperwork.
Requirements can change. Always verify with your freight forwarder before shipping.
Before shipping, verify whether your destination country requires an ECTN. Check both the final destination and any transit countries the cargo passes through.
The ECTN application typically requires:
ECTN applications are submitted through agents authorized by each country's issuing authority. Your freight forwarder typically handles this as part of the export documentation process.
Critical timing: The application must be submitted at origin before the vessel departs. Some countries require the ECTN to be validated before vessel arrival at the destination.
The issuing authority reviews the application, verifies the information, and issues the validated ECTN with a unique tracking number. Standard processing takes 24 to 96 hours depending on the country.
The ECTN number must be referenced on the bill of lading and included with the documents sent to the consignee. Customs at the destination port will verify the ECTN during clearance.
Cargo is held at the destination port until the ECTN is obtained retroactively. The consignee cannot clear the shipment, and the container accrues demurrage and storage charges daily.
Penalties apply. Fines vary by country but can be severe:
The total cost of non-compliance — penalties plus demurrage plus storage plus expedited retroactive processing — can easily exceed several thousand dollars per container. Far more than the $200–$450 the ECTN would have cost if filed on time.
Applying too late. Waiting until after the vessel sails or approaching the destination. Apply as soon as the bill of lading and commercial documents are available.
Mismatched documents. If the bill of lading says "Port of Discharge: Douala" but the ECTN says "Kribi," or party names don't match across documents, the ECTN will be rejected or require amendment.
Forgetting transit country requirements. Shipping to Chad via Cameroon? You likely need two separate ECTNs.
Using unauthorized agents. ECTNs obtained through unauthorized agents may not be recognized at the destination. Verify your provider is authorized by the relevant national authority.
Under-declaring freight charges. Customs authorities compare declared freight values against benchmarks. Discrepancies trigger audits and penalties.
If you regularly handle shipments to ECTN-required destinations:
Ship Faster. Scale Smarter. Request a GoFreight Demo →
An ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a mandatory pre-shipment document required by certain countries, primarily in Africa, for all goods arriving by sea. It contains cargo, party, vessel, and freight charge information and must be obtained at origin before the vessel arrives at the destination port.
As of 2026, countries requiring ECTN or equivalent documents include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Typically $180 to $450 per bill of lading, depending on the destination country and cargo details. For landlocked countries requiring transit through another ECTN country, the cost doubles to $400–$700 for two separate documents.
The cargo will be held at the destination port until the ECTN is obtained retroactively. Penalties can reach 30–50% of the CIF freight value in some countries, plus demurrage and storage charges for every day the container sits at the port.
Most ECTN requirements apply specifically to sea freight. Air freight shipments are generally exempt, though this varies by country. Always confirm with the destination country's authorities or your freight forwarder.
Yes. Most forwarders experienced with African trade lanes handle ECTN applications as a standard part of their documentation service, submitting through authorized agents and tracking validation status.