Republic of Chad ECTN

ECTN is another waiver document, and it stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. You may have heard about Bordereau de Suivi Cargaison (BSC) or Loading Certificate, which is the same as the ECTN document.

These waiver certificates are official marine documents containing information about the cargo and its movement between ports. Certain African countries require this from shippers intending to effectively control, supervise and manage import/export traffic of the country. Each ECTN must be applied and validated at the loading port and are fundamental for the import customs clearance upon arrival. The local Customs will block cargoes not covered by a valid ECTN until the presentation of the final ECTN, and an appropriate fine will be charged.

Waiver documents have full details of the exporter/ importer, shipping method (containerized, groupage, etc.), type and value of goods being transported, name of vessel and cost of freight for the shipment. These waivers are dealt with by the importer or exporter and must be filed before the cargo arrives at its discharge port. The time frame and duration devoted to getting the certificate validated vary immensely. Your shipment will be penalized, and ECTN will not be issued if you miss the certification deadline.

SAMPLE ECTN Certificate

A shipment going to Chad as a final destination in transit through Cameroon will also require an ECTN certificate for Cameroon.

No, ECTN is unique and reserved only for one shipment. Every shipment must have a validated ECTN number.

GetCTN is an independent consulting firm that helps clients obtain CTN certificates in many African countries. It is an international company with offices in the USA, UK, and UAE, and its sole business is CTN certification; it is not a freight forwarder, importer, or exporter.

The hard copy of the certificate isn’t necessary at all. Instead, the whole process is completed online.

A bill of lading (BL or BoL) is a legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper that details the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried.

A commercial invoice is a required document for the export and import clearance process. It is sometimes used for foreign exchange purposes. In the buyer’s country, it is the document their customs officials use to assess import duties and taxes.