What does ECTN stand for?
ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note.
What is ECTN?
The umbrella term for the mandatory pre-shipment cargo tracking note used across most African destinations. Known locally as BESC, BSC, ARCCLA, FERI, SPN and others, it is an electronic verification of cargo weights, values and party details required to clear customs at the destination port.
Who regulates ECTN?
The ECTN certificate is issued and validated by each destination’s own authority (the South Sudan Revenue Authority, the Conseil Congolais des Chargeurs, the Conseil Burkinabè des Chargeurs, Somalia’s Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport).
Which countries require ECTN?
These destinations require the ECTN certificate: Republic of Congo, Somalia, Djibouti, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and South Sudan.
Official sources
Official South Sudan ECTN sources
The South Sudan ECTN is run by the South Sudan Revenue Authority on its own portal.
- South Sudan Revenue Authority: ECTN portal (ectnssra.com)
- ANTASER notices: 1 April 2019 launch and the 2022 customs circular
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Top 3 causes of South Sudan ECTN problems
- The port of discharge (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam or Port Sudan) or the final destination in South Sudan is not stated.
- Commercial invoice is not stamped by the South Sudan Embassy or Chamber of Commerce where this is required.
- Parties, addresses, weights or values differ between the Bill of Lading, the invoice and the export declaration.
Official ECTN Document Sample
Verify the layout, stamps, and ECTN customs format of a validated South Sudan loading certificate:
Official Somalia ECTN sources
The Somalia ECTN is required by the Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
- Ecofin Agency (26 Nov 2025): Somalia makes the ECTN mandatory for all cargo at its ports
- Maersk (9 Feb 2026): mandatory ECTN at the Port of Mogadishu for Bills of Lading from 10 January 2026
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Top 3 causes of Somalia ECTN rejection
- ECTN number not declared on the Master Bill of Lading.
- Lack of Certificate of Origin for manufactured products.
- Consignee lacks a registered tax identification number in Somalia.
Official Republic of Congo ECTN sources
The certificate is issued for the Conseil Congolais des Chargeurs (CCC) in Pointe-Noire.
- Conseil Congolais des Chargeurs (CCC): BESC IMPORT subscription (destination Congo)
- CMA CGM: BESC in Congo and the NVU on the Bill of Lading
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Top 3 causes of Republic of Congo ECTN rejection
- ECTN number is not displayed on the Bill of Lading.
- Vessel departure date is more than 5 days prior to validation request.
- Commercial invoice value has a discrepancy with the Freight invoice.
Illustrative layout (not a real document)
A standard verified ECTN contains key cargo parameters that customs systems scan: