What is the Guinea BESC (Guinea ECTN, Guinea Conakry ECTN)?
The Guinea Conakry BESC is the pre-loading cargo declaration of the Republic of Guinea, run for the Conseil Guinéen des Chargeurs (CGC), which entrusted its management to Catalyst Business Solutions. According to shipping documentation providers, it has been required since 9 October 2018 under Executive Order 2018/10/1/2/2/MT. It serves as a clearance document for international sea transport and records the cargo and its movement between ports. Since 1 March 2025 imported goods also need local insurance.
New to the BESC? Read BESC meaning, and CTN meaning in shipping for the cargo tracking note that 30 African and Middle East destinations ask for in one form or another.
Other names for the Guinea Conakry BESC
One instrument, several names. For Guinea Conakry the filing is the BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons. The same certificate is also referred to as ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), and ICTN, 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.
Guinea Conakry ECTN: Conakry and Kamsar
The Guinea BESC covers sea imports to the Republic of Guinea, mainly through the Port of Conakry and Kamsar. Guinea Conakry is a different country from Guinea-Bissau (CEE) and Equatorial Guinea (ECTN); check the destination on the Bill of Lading.
Guinea Conakry BESC sources
The Guinea BESC procedure is run for the Conseil Guinéen des Chargeurs (CGC).
- CIO Mag: Catalyst manages the BESC procedure for the Conseil Guinéen des Chargeurs
- Shippersdoc: Guinea BESC, Executive Order 2018/10/1/2/2/MT of 9 October 2018
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Guinea BESC: 5 days before arrival
The Guinea Conakry BESC, the document searched as the Guinea Conakry ECTN, must be validated at least 5 days before the vessel arrives. Approval runs through Conakry, so open the file as soon as the Bill of Lading details are settled rather than counting back from arrival.
Who files the Guinea BESC
The shipper, the exporter or the freight forwarder at the port of loading files the Guinea BESC; the importer provides the NIF and the local insurance certificate.
How to get the Guinea Conakry BESC, step by step
According to the customs regulations of Guinea Conakry, 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 (a draft opens the file; the original validates it), the commercial invoice, the freight invoice and the export customs declaration, with the importer’s NIF (tax number) and the local insurance certificate.
- ▪We check that the data match across the documents and prepare the draft Guinea BESC; the BESC number is passed to the shipping line for the original Bill of Lading.
- ▪You approve the draft; the BESC is validated with the original Bill of Lading.
- ▪Validation must be complete at least 5 days before the vessel arrives at Conakry or Kamsar.
Guinea Conakry BESC: validity and amendments
A validated BESC 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 Guinea Conakry BESC?
Cargo arriving without a validated BESC is generally not released at Conakry: 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 a Guinea Conakry BESC 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.
Guinea BESC and Guinea Conakry ECTN questions
What is the Guinea Conakry BESC?
The BESC is a compulsory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) for shipments to Guinea Conakry. 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 BESC?
The core documents are: Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, 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 BESC be issued?
At least 5 days before the vessel arrives at Conakry; open the file as soon as the Bill of Lading details are settled, since approval runs through Conakry.
What happens if cargo arrives without a valid BESC?
Cargo without a validated BESC faces penalties and fees at the port of arrival, with storage and demurrage until it is regularised.
Can a validated BESC be modified after issuance?
Once validated, changes are generally restricted. Ensure all weights, values and party details match your cargo manifests and Bill of Lading exactly before submitting.
Is the Guinea Conakry ECTN the same as the Guinea BESC?
Yes. The Guinea Conakry ECTN, the Guinea ECTN, the Guinea BESC and the Guinea Conakry BESC all mean the BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) of the Republic of Guinea; some agents also call it ICTN.
Is Guinea Conakry the same as Guinea-Bissau or Equatorial Guinea?
No. Guinea (Conakry) requires a BESC; Guinea-Bissau requires a CEE and Equatorial Guinea an ECTN. Each country has its own certificate and procedure.