What is a CTN certificate?
A Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) is an official loading certificate that declares a shipment to the destination's customs authority before the cargo gets there. It contains detailed information about cargo and its movement between ports, including transit periods.
The CTN certificate must accompany any shipment to the countries that demand it, and the filing deadline depends on the destination — some require it before the vessel departs, others before the cargo arrives. It enables destination port authorities to have all necessary information before shipments arrive, facilitating customs clearance.
Does CTN mean carton on a packing list?
Yes — on a packing list or a commercial invoice, CTN is short for carton, a unit of packaging, as in "1 CTN = 12 pcs". That abbreviation is unrelated to the document described here. The rest of this page is about the Cargo Tracking Note, the customs certificate that African destinations require.
Which countries require a CTN?
Thirty African destinations require a cargo tracking certificate, and five of them call it a CTN. Elsewhere the same requirement runs under a local name — BESC across much of Francophone West Africa, CNCA in Angola, FERI in DR Congo, BIETC in Gabon, BSC in Ivory Coast and Madagascar, ACID in Egypt, ACD in Sudan, Kenya and Yemen, CEE in Guinea Bissau.
These are the destinations where the certificate is named CTN:
| Destination | Certificate | Country page |
|---|---|---|
| Gambia | CTN | Gambia CTN |
| Ghana | CTN | Ghana CTN |
| Liberia | CTN | Liberia CTN |
| Sierra Leone | CTN | Sierra Leone CTN |
| Somalia | CTN | Somalia CTN |
For all thirty destinations and the name each one uses, see what countries require an ECTN.
Which documents do you need for a CTN?
Two documents are asked for at every destination we cover:
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
Past those two the list is set by the destination and it varies — a freight invoice, a packing list, an export declaration or a country-specific application form may each be required. The country page for your destination carries its current list.
Why is the CTN certificate important?
The CTN gives the destination's customs authority a full picture of the shipment before it arrives, which is what lets clearance begin early. The certificate gives marine customs authorities access to:
- Exporter and importer details
- Shipping route and method
- Commodity type and value
- Freight value
- Consignment details
Port authorities state that the CTN aims to achieve "substantial reduction of risk, real-time monitoring" and reliable assessments of import goods, shippers, and importers. The system also lets each country keep statistical data for future logistical monitoring.
What happens if you ship without a CTN?
Shipping or arriving without a CTN certificate may result in high fines at the destination port. The cargo cannot be cleared until a valid certificate is presented, so the hold adds storage and demurrage on top of the fine — which is why the deadline for your destination is worth confirming before the vessel books.