What is the Liberia CTN (BESC)?
The Liberia CTN is the cargo tracking note the National Port Authority (NPA) requires for shipments to Liberian ports: Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper. Each Bill of Lading needs its own validated number, written on the Bill of Lading and in the cargo manifest. Carriers announced the requirement for shipments from 2019, cargo in transit through Liberia included.
The CTN is Liberia’s form of the cargo tracking note; CTN meaning in shipping explains the document 30 African and Middle East destinations ask for in one form or another.
Other names for the Liberia CTN
One instrument, several names. For Liberia the filing is the CTN — Cargo Tracking Note. The same certificate is also referred to as CTN (Cargo Tracking Note), ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration), ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), and cargo tracking note, and a request for one is a request for the other. If your importer or your carrier has asked for a name that is not on this page, send it to us with the Bill of Lading and we will confirm which filing they mean.
Liberia CTN: Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper
Liberia’s seaports are Monrovia (the Freeport of Monrovia), Buchanan, Greenville and Harper. The Liberia CTN is required for every Bill of Lading discharged at any of them, and carrier notices extend it to cargo that only transits Liberia.
Official Liberia CTN (BESC) sources
The Liberia cargo tracking note is implemented by the National Port Authority (NPA).
- U.S. International Trade Administration: Liberia import requirements (NPA cargo tracking note system)
- AJOT: carrier notice on the Liberia cargo tracking note taking effect in 2019
accessed
When to get the Liberia CTN
Obtain the Liberia CTN before the vessel sails: cargo without a valid number is not loaded, and the number has to appear on the Bill of Lading. Under the measures in force since 16 May 2026, a shipment that sails without one has 14 days from the sailing date before non-compliance penalties apply, and amendments requested after the application has been submitted are charged.
Who files the Liberia CTN
The shipper, the exporter or the freight forwarder at the port of loading files the Liberia CTN. The consignee in Liberia does not file it, but the cargo cannot be discharged without it.
How to get the Liberia CTN, step by step
According to the customs regulations of Liberia, every cargo shipment purchased from abroad and transported for commercial, business, diplomatic, or personal purposes requires a validated Loading Certificate:
- ▪Send the Bill of Lading, the commercial invoice showing the FOB value, freight and insurance, the packing list, the freight invoice and the export customs declaration.
- ▪We check that packages, weights and values match across the documents and prepare the draft with the Liberia CTN number.
- ▪You approve the draft; the number is written in the cargo description of the Bill of Lading and in the manifest.
- ▪The validated Liberia CTN travels with the cargo for discharge and clearance in Liberia.
Liberia CTN: validity and amendments
A validated CTN is issued against one shipment: one Bill of Lading, one vessel, one voyage, one consignee. It does not carry over to your next shipment and it carries no renewal date. If the shipment changes, the certificate has to change with it — and what can be amended after validation, and at what cost, is set by the destination authority. Corrections to the draft before filing cost nothing, which is why we send you the draft first.
What happens without a valid Liberia CTN?
Cargo arriving without a validated CTN is generally not released at Monrovia: customs clearance delays, storage and demurrage accruing daily, and regulatory fines until a valid certificate is presented. The demurrage is often the larger of the two numbers, and it is the one that grows while the paperwork is corrected.
What the Liberia CTN costs
Two lines, quoted separately. The first is the statutory charge the destination authority sets for registering the certificate — it belongs to the authority, not to us, and it varies by destination and shipment profile. The second is our service fee for preparing the file, checking it against the published requirements, filing it and handling any query. Neither is a percentage of your cargo value. Both are fixed and shown before anything is filed, so the invoice you approve is the invoice you pay.
Liberia CTN: latest notices and articles
Liberia CTN and BESC questions
What is the Liberia CTN?
The CTN is a compulsory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) for shipments to Liberia. It records loading and invoice details so customs can verify compliance ahead of the destination's filing deadline.
Which documents are required to obtain the CTN?
The core documents are: Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Freight Invoice, and Export Customs Declaration. Additional destination-specific paperwork may be requested during validation — our desk confirms the exact list for your shipment.
When must the CTN be issued?
Before the vessel sails. Cargo without a valid Liberia CTN number is not loaded, and the number has to appear on the Bill of Lading and in the manifest. Since 16 May 2026 a shipment that sails without one has 14 days from the sailing date before non-compliance penalties apply.
What happens if cargo arrives without a valid CTN?
Cargo without a valid number is not discharged in Liberia, and fines apply under the National Port Authority’s regulations, on top of storage and demurrage while the cargo waits.
Can a validated CTN be modified after issuance?
Yes, but since 16 May 2026 any amendment requested after the application has been submitted is charged. Check that weights, values and party details match the Bill of Lading and the manifest before you approve the draft.
Is the Liberia CTN the same as the Liberia BESC?
Yes. The certificate is printed as a BESC; shippers and carriers also call it the Liberia CTN (Cargo Tracking Note) or ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration). It is one document per Bill of Lading.
Who requires the Liberia CTN?
The National Port Authority (NPA) of Liberia implements the cargo tracking note system. Shipments without a valid number are not loaded or discharged, and fines may apply under NPA regulations.
What happens if the vessel sails without a Liberia CTN?
Since 16 May 2026 a shipment that sails without one has a 14-day grace period from the sailing date. After that, non-compliance penalties apply.
How are machinery and large trucks on flat racks charged?
Earth-moving machinery and large trucks shipped on flat racks are invoiced under the Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo) tariff, not the container tariff. Declare the cargo type correctly in the application.