Overview
The CTN — Cargo Tracking Note — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Sierra Leone, which discharge at Freetown. 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 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 CTN Document Sample
Verify the layout, stamps, and CTN customs format of a validated Sierra Leone 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.
- 3ApproveYou review the draft and confirm every detail before anything is filed.
- 4PaymentThe fixed-price invoice is settled so the file can go forward for validation.
- 5ValidateThe certificate is validated and the final CTN number is confirmed.
Timeline
| Step | Duration |
|---|---|
| Submit documents | Your action |
| Draft & invoice | 1 hour on average |
| Approve draft | Your action |
| Payment | Your action |
Special rules & HS codes
Rule 1
The CTN number is issued at validation, so it cannot be supplied in advance.
Rule 2
The incoterm must be mentioned on the commercial invoice.
Rule 3
The Chassis Number must be mentioned on the bill of lading when shipping vehicles.
Rule 4
If a shipment is not accompanied by a valid CTN prior to vessel arrival there will be a $1000 penalty applied that must be settled in the destination port.
Rule 5
Printing the CTN number on the Master Bill of Lading is not required by the authority, but individual carriers may ask for it.
Rule 6
On RO-RO shipments each chassis number is charged separately.
Rule 7
The RO-RO surcharge for trucks is calculated on maximum loadable weight.
Official sources
Sierra Leone CTN sources
The Sierra Leone CTN rests on a Ministry of Finance memorandum (Ref. MF-Rev 62/100/05/11-22) and is enforced through an accredited agency.
accessed
Top 3 causes of Sierra Leone CTN rejection
- CTN number not declared on the Master Bill of Lading.
- Customs value under-declaration detected by validation team.
- Vessel departure date is missing on the Bill of Lading.
Specific questions: Sierra Leone
Is ECTN Sierra Leone the same as the Sierra Leone CTN?
Yes. ECTN Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone ECTN and the Sierra Leone CTN all mean the same certificate; searches for the ECTN Sierra Leone requirement lead to the CTN printed on the certificate.
Since when do carriers enforce the Sierra Leone ECTN?
Since 1 January 2023 shipping lines have been mandated to enforce the Sierra Leone ECTN under the Ministry of Finance memorandum. The ENS/CTN number has to be given to the shipping line before loading at the port of loading so it can be printed on the Bill of Lading and the cargo manifest.
Do exports from Freetown need a number too?
Yes. For cargo leaving Sierra Leone, the EXS number has to be given to the shipping line before loading at Freetown so it can be printed on the Bill of Lading and the cargo manifest.
Is the Sierra Leone CTN the same as the ECTN or ENS?
Yes. CTN is the name printed on Sierra Leone’s certificate; the trade also calls it the Sierra Leone ECTN or ENS. All three mean the same document, one per Bill of Lading.
What does “No ECTN, No Load” mean for Sierra Leone?
Carriers do not load cargo for Sierra Leone without an ECTN. The ECTN must be shown on the Bill of Lading and the cargo manifest, and the final ECTN must be submitted before the Bill of Lading is released.
Latest updates: Sierra Leone
Critical requirements for Sierra Leone CTN certificates: naming conventions, penalties, documentation accuracy, and exporter responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
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