Frequently asked questions

An ECTN is a mandatory pre-shipment document that lets a destination customs authority verify the shipper, consignee, cargo and declared values before a vessel arrives. Many African countries use their own national name for it — BESC, CNCA, FERI, BIETC, ACD, ACID, BSC or CTN — but the purpose is the same.

Most African maritime destinations require one, including Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Sudan, DR Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and many more. Use the “Do I need a waiver?” checker to confirm your exact route.

Destination authorities use it to control and monitor maritime trade, prevent smuggling, verify declared values and speed up customs clearance. It is a legal requirement in the countries that mandate it.

Yes. BESC is the French-language name (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) for the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. The document and its purpose are identical.

The cost depends on the destination country and the details of your shipment. Send us your Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice and we prepare a firm quote — you review and approve it before anything is filed.

If you cancel before validation, you are refunded amounts paid less any government fees already incurred. Once a certificate is validated it is registered with the authority and generally cannot be refunded. See our Refund Policy for detail.

You submit your Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice, we prepare a draft and a fixed-price invoice within 2–4 hours, you approve it, you pay, and the validated certificate is issued to your inbox — usually within 3–6 hours total once documents are correct.

The shipper or freight forwarder is responsible for obtaining and validating the certificate before the cargo arrives — and, in some countries, before it is loaded.

Yes. The entire process is online and you can start before your cargo is booked. Filing early avoids last-minute delays and penalty fees.

Standard validation is 3–6 hours once your documents are received and correct. Some destinations have their own filing deadlines, which we confirm for your route.

The core documents are the Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice. Depending on the destination we may also need a Freight Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin or a country-specific document (for example the DU for Angola). Our desk confirms the exact list.

Yes. Some cargo — vehicles and road components, hazardous goods, and regulated products — carry extra requirements or documents. We flag these before filing.

Through a unique reference number that appears on both the certificate and the Bill of Lading, establishing the connection between the cargo details and the shipment.

Once validated, changes are generally restricted and may incur a penalty. Ensure all weights, values and party details match your Bill of Lading before submitting.

No. Each certificate covers a single shipment for the full journey from load port to discharge port; every shipment needs its own.

It typically faces customs clearance delays, storage and demurrage charges, and regulatory fines until a valid certificate is presented — and some countries block the shipment at loading.

Incomplete or inaccurate information, missing supporting documents, or a mismatch between the invoice and the Bill of Lading. Our desk cross-checks every field to prevent this.