Free Tool

What waiver does my destination need?

Every African destination uses its own name for the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. Search a country or acronym to find the exact waiver, its full form and required documents.

Cargo tracking waiver acronyms explained

Each acronym below is a national form of the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN).

CTN· 3 countries

Cargo Tracking Note

BESC· 3 countries

Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons

CNCA· 1 country

Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola

FERI· 1 country

Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l'Importation

BIETC· 1 country

Bordereau d'Identification Électronique des Transports et des Cargaisons

ACD· 3 countries

Advance Cargo Declaration

ACID· 1 country

Advance Cargo Information Declaration

BSC· 5 countries

Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons

CEE· 1 country

Certificado Electrónico de Embarque

ECTN & waiver acronyms — FAQ

What does ECTN mean?

ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note — a mandatory pre-shipment document that lets a destination customs authority verify the shipper, consignee, cargo and declared values before the vessel arrives. Many African countries use their own national name for it (BESC, CNCA, FERI, BIETC, ACD, ACID, BSC, CTN).

What is the full form of CTN?

CTN is the Cargo Tracking Note. It is the same class of document as the ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note); several West African countries such as Ghana, Gambia and Liberia use the shorter “CTN” name.

Is BESC the same as ECTN?

Yes. BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is the French-language name used in countries like Cameroon, Benin and Senegal for the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. The document and its purpose are identical.

How do I know which waiver my shipment needs?

It depends only on the destination country. Search your destination above or use the “Do I need a waiver?” checker — each country maps to exactly one waiver name.