Overview
The BSC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi de Cargaison — 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
Required documents
Official BSC Document Sample
Verify the layout, stamps, and BSC customs format of a validated Senegal loading certificate:
Application process
- 1SubmitSend your Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice, with the Freight Invoice if freight is not shown on the commercial invoice.
- 2Draft & invoiceWe prepare a draft certificate and a fixed-price invoice within 1 hour on average. The draft carries the BSC number you need for the master Bill of Lading.
- 3Print the numberPass the BSC number to your shipping line so it is printed on the master Bill of Lading — for Senegal this is mandatory, not optional.
- 4ApproveYou review the draft and confirm every detail before anything is filed.
- 5ValidateThe dated master Bill of Lading goes in and the certificate is validated. The final BSC number is only confirmed at validation.
The BSC 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
| Step | Duration |
|---|---|
| Submit documents | Your action |
| Draft & invoice | 1 hour on average |
| Approve draft | Your action |
| Payment | Your action |
Special rules & HS codes
The number cannot come first
The BSC 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 BSC number on the Master Bill of Lading. This is the single most common reason a Senegal file is bounced back.
Official sources
Official Senegal BSC sources
The Senegal BSC was created by Interministerial Order No. 04350 of 26 May 2008 and is validated by the Senegalese Shippers’ Council (COSEC).
- Journal Officiel de la République du Sénégal: order on the cargo tracking note (BSC)
- Conseil Sénégalais des Chargeurs (COSEC)
accessed
Top 3 causes of Senegal BSC rejection
- Commercial Invoice value does not match the insurance certificates.
- Bill of Lading lacks the mandatory BSC number annotation.
- Shipper and consignee addresses do not match corporate registry records.
Case study: Senegal BSC after vessel arrival at Dakar: a real case
Specific questions: Senegal
Is BSC Senegal the same as the Senegal BESC or ECTN?
Yes. BSC (Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons) is the name printed on Senegal’s certificate; BESC is its electronic form, and searches for the Senegal ECTN mean the same document.
Who is COSEC?
The Conseil Sénégalais des Chargeurs (COSEC), Senegal’s shippers’ council, validates the BSC under the 2008 interministerial order.
Do exports from Senegal need a BSC?
No. The BSC applies to goods imported into Senegal by sea; exports are exempt.
Latest updates: Senegal
Learn how to obtain a Senegal BSC Certificate (electronic cargo tracking document) in as few as 1-5 working days by preparing the required shipping documents.
Shipping lines including CMA CGM, Maersk, and ONE now enforce strict BSC certificate requirements for Senegal cargo or face penalties and denial of loading.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to get your BSC?
Send your Bill of Lading and get your draft certificate today — fast, transparent, compliant.