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Comprehensive Guide

Senegal BESC Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: August 4, 2026

The BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is required for sea shipments to Senegal, which discharge at Dakar. This guide covers the documents you need, how the filing runs, and the two Senegal-specific rules that decide whether the certificate validates on the first attempt.

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Overview

The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons — is the electronic cargo tracking note for sea freight moving to Senegal. It ties the shipper, consignee, cargo and freight values on your Bill of Lading to a single reference that customs can reconcile before the cargo is worked. Filing deadlines differ by destination: some require the certificate before the vessel sails, others later, so we confirm the exact cut-off for your route before anything is filed. Cargo that only passes through Dakar on its way to a landlocked neighbour is treated as in-transit and still needs a certificate, so the routing has to be documented from the start.

Discharge ports

Dakar

Required documents

Bill of Lading
The dated master Bill of Lading is required before the certificate is validated, and the BESC number has to appear on it.
Commercial Invoice
Goods and declared values as shipped.
Freight Invoice
Required when freight is not shown on the commercial invoice.

Application process

  1. 1
    Submit
    Send your Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice, with the Freight Invoice if freight is not shown on the commercial invoice.
  2. 2
    Draft & invoice
    We prepare a draft certificate and a fixed-price invoice within 3–6 hours. The draft carries the BESC number you need for the master Bill of Lading.
  3. 3
    Print the number
    Pass the BESC number to your shipping line so it is printed on the master Bill of Lading — for Senegal this is mandatory, not optional.
  4. 4
    Approve
    You review the draft and confirm every detail before anything is filed.
  5. 5
    Validate
    The dated master Bill of Lading goes in and the certificate is validated. The final BESC number is only confirmed at validation.

The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be supplied in advance — the number on your draft is what goes on the master Bill of Lading.

Timeline

StepDuration
Submit documentsYour action
Draft & invoice3–6 hours
Approve draftYour action
PaymentYour action

Special rules & HS codes

The number cannot come first

The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be supplied in advance. Plan the master Bill of Lading around the draft number rather than waiting for a final one.

Dated master Bill of Lading

The dated, master Bill of Lading is required before the certificate is validated. A draft alone will not close the file.

Number printed on the master B/L

For Senegal it is mandatory to mention the BESC number on the Master Bill of Lading. This is the single most common reason a Senegal file is bounced back.

Frequently asked questions

The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Senegal, discharging at Dakar.

Not the final one. The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be supplied in advance; the draft carries the number you use in the meantime.

Yes. For Senegal it is mandatory to mention the BESC number on the Master Bill of Lading.

Filing deadlines differ by destination — some require the certificate before the vessel sails, others later. We confirm the exact cut-off for your route before anything is filed.

Yes. Cargo discharging at Dakar for onward movement to a landlocked neighbour still needs a certificate, and the transit routing must be documented.

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