What is the Chad ECTN (BESC)?
The Chad BESC is the electronic cargo tracking note for sea cargo bound for Chad, required since January 2013 according to the Chad shippers’ council. Because Chad has no seaport, the BESC follows the final destination: cargo for N’Djamena discharged in Cameroon needs the Chad BESC. On 15 June 2026 the Conseil National des Chargeurs du Cameroun (CNCC) suspended, until further notice, the obligation of the Cameroonian BESC for cargo in transit on the Douala–N’Djamena and Douala–Bangui corridors, following the Chad–Cameroon–CAR tripartite forum of May 2026. The suspension concerns Cameroon’s certificate, not Chad’s.
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 Chad BESC
One instrument, several names. For Chad 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 BESC Tchad, 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.
Chad ECTN: transit via Douala and Kribi
Chad has no seaport. Its sea cargo is discharged mainly at Douala or Kribi in Cameroon and continues by road to N’Djamena; some cargo routes through Cotonou or Lagos. The Chad BESC is required for every Bill of Lading with final destination Chad, whichever port is used. On the Cameroon route, the Cameroonian BESC for transit cargo has been suspended since 15 June 2026 until further notice.
Chad BESC: official notices
The Chad BESC is required by the Chad shippers’ council; the Cameroon transit rule is set by Cameroon’s shippers’ council (CNCC).
- Investir au Cameroun (22 Jun 2026): CNCC suspends the BESC for transit cargo on the Douala–N’Djamena and Douala–Bangui corridors
- ANTASER notices: Chad BESC mandatory since January 2013
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When to file the Chad BESC
The Chad BESC has to be validated before the vessel reaches the port of discharge. File as soon as the booking is confirmed: the BESC number appears on the draft, and late validation leaves the cargo waiting in the transit port.
Who files the Chad BESC
The shipper, the exporter or the freight forwarder at origin files the Chad BESC. The importer in N’Djamena does not file it, but cannot clear the cargo without it.
How to get the Chad BESC, step by step
According to the customs regulations of Chad, 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 with the shipped-on-board date, the commercial invoice showing the Incoterm and Chad as the destination, and the freight invoice if freight is not on the invoice.
- ▪We check that parties, package types, weights and values match across the documents. The BESC number appears on the draft.
- ▪You approve the draft; the BESC is validated before the vessel reaches the port of discharge.
- ▪The validated Chad BESC travels with the cargo to N’Djamena for clearance.
Chad 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 Chad BESC?
Cargo arriving without a validated BESC is generally not released at Douala (Cameroon), Cotonou (Benin) or Lagos (Nigeria): 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 Chad 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.
Chad BESC: latest notices and articles
- Chad BESC Procedure: What Shippers Must Know · 2026-02-24
Chad ECTN and BESC questions
What is the Chad BESC?
The BESC is a compulsory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) for shipments to Chad. 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, and Freight Invoice. Additional destination-specific paperwork may be requested during validation — our desk confirms the exact list for your shipment.
When must the BESC be issued?
The Chad BESC has to be validated before the vessel reaches the port of discharge. File as soon as the booking is confirmed: the BESC number appears on the draft, and late validation leaves the cargo waiting in the transit port.
What happens if cargo arrives without a valid BESC?
The Chad BESC is needed to clear the cargo in N’Djamena. Cargo that arrives without a validated Chad BESC waits in the transit port, 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 Chad ECTN the same as the Chad BESC?
Yes. Searches for the Chad ECTN mean the BESC, the name printed on the certificate.
Does cargo for Chad through Douala also need a Cameroon BESC?
Not at the moment. On 15 June 2026 the Cameroon shippers’ council (CNCC) suspended, until further notice, the Cameroonian BESC for cargo in transit on the Douala–N’Djamena corridor. The Chad BESC is still required.
Since when is the Chad BESC mandatory?
Since January 2013, according to a communiqué of the Chad shippers’ council published by ANTASER.