CTN vs ECTN vs BSC vs BESC: What’s the Difference?

Last updated: March 2026

A Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) is an electronic document required by many African countries for importing goods. The same certificate goes by different names depending on the country: CTN, ECTN, BSC, BESC, CNCA, FERI, ENS, and ACD. Despite different names, they all serve the same purpose — tracking and validating cargo shipments.

If you’ve been researching cargo documentation for African trade, you’ve probably come across a confusing alphabet soup of acronyms. CTN, ECTN, BSC, BESC, FERI, CNCA — what do they all mean, and are they actually different documents? In this guide, we break down every acronym, explain which countries use which name, and clarify whether you need separate certificates for each destination.

What Each Acronym Stands For

Before diving into the differences (or lack thereof), let’s define each acronym you’re likely to encounter:

CTN — Cargo Tracking Note

CTN stands for Cargo Tracking Note. This is the most widely used English-language term for the certificate. It refers to the electronic document that must accompany shipments to certain African countries, allowing authorities to track and validate incoming cargo. Countries like Somalia, Togo, and Liberia use this term.

ECTN — Electronic Cargo Tracking Note

ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. It is functionally identical to a CTN — the word “Electronic” simply emphasises that the document is issued and processed digitally. Countries such as Djibouti, Benin, Gambia, and Guinea-Conakry use the ECTN designation. You can learn more about how the process works in our guide on what an ECTN number is and how to get one.

BSC — Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison

BSC stands for Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison, which translates from French as “Cargo Tracking Slip.” This is the French-language equivalent of a CTN. French-speaking countries such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Chad, and the Republic of Congo commonly use this term.

BESC — Bordereau Electronique de Suivi de Cargaison

BESC stands for Bordereau Electronique de Suivi de Cargaison, meaning “Electronic Cargo Tracking Slip” in French. Just as ECTN adds “Electronic” to CTN, BESC adds “Electronique” to BSC. Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic use this term.

CNCA — Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola

CNCA stands for Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola (National Council of Shippers of Angola). In Angola, the cargo tracking certificate is named after the regulatory body that administers it. The document itself serves the same purpose as a CTN.

FERI — Fiche Electronique de Renseignements à l’Importation

FERI stands for Fiche Electronique de Renseignements à l’Importation, meaning “Electronic Import Information Form.” This is the term used exclusively by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite the unique name, it functions identically to a CTN.

ENS — Entry Summary Declaration

ENS stands for Entry Summary Declaration. Sierra Leone uses this term for its cargo tracking requirement. The ENS must be obtained before goods arrive at port, just like a CTN in other countries.

ACD — Advance Cargo Declaration

ACD stands for Advance Cargo Declaration. This term is used by Sudan and Yemen. The ACD requires shippers to declare cargo information in advance of arrival, serving the same tracking and validation function as a CTN.

BIETC — Bordereau d’Identification Electronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons

BIETC stands for Bordereau d’Identification Electronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons, meaning “Electronic Cargo Traceability Identification Slip.” Gabon uses this specific term for its cargo tracking certificate.

CEE — Certificado Electronico de Embarque

CEE stands for Certificado Electronico de Embarque, which translates from Portuguese as “Electronic Shipping Certificate.” Guinea-Bissau, a Portuguese-speaking country, uses this designation for its cargo tracking requirement.

ICTN — Import Cargo Tracking Note

ICTN stands for Import Cargo Tracking Note. Nigeria uses this term, adding “Import” to specify the direction of trade. The ICTN is required for all goods being imported into Nigeria.

Country-by-Country Comparison Table

The following table lists every country that requires a cargo tracking certificate, the local name for the document, the acronym used, and the language origin of the term.

Country	Certificate Name	Acronym	Language Origin
Angola	Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola	CNCA	Portuguese
Benin	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	ECTN	English
Burkina Faso	Bordereau Electronique de Suivi de Cargaison	BESC	French
Burundi	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	ECTN	English
Cameroon	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Central African Republic	Bordereau Electronique de Suivi de Cargaison	BESC	French
Chad	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Ivory Coast	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Democratic Republic of Congo	Fiche Electronique de Renseignements à l’Importation	FERI	French
Djibouti	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	ECTN	English
Equatorial Guinea	Cargo Tracking Note	CTN	English
Gabon	Bordereau d’Identification Electronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons	BIETC	French
Gambia	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	ECTN	English
Ghana	Advance Cargo Declaration	ACD	English
Guinea-Bissau	Certificado Electronico de Embarque	CEE	Portuguese
Guinea-Conakry	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	ECTN	English/French
Liberia	Cargo Tracking Note	CTN	English
Madagascar	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Mali	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Niger	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Nigeria	Import Cargo Tracking Note	ICTN	English
Republic of Congo	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Senegal	Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison	BSC	French
Sierra Leone	Entry Summary Declaration	ENS	English
Somalia	Cargo Tracking Note	CTN	English
Sudan	Advance Cargo Declaration	ACD	English
Togo	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	ECTN	English
Yemen	Advance Cargo Declaration	ACD	English

Are They All the Same?

Yes — functionally, all of these certificates are identical. Whether it’s called a CTN, ECTN, BSC, BESC, FERI, CNCA, ENS, or ACD, the document serves the same core purpose: it tracks cargo being shipped to a destination country and validates the shipment details before the goods arrive at port.

The naming variation is purely a matter of language and local convention. French-speaking countries (Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chad, etc.) tend to use BSC or BESC. English-speaking countries (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, etc.) tend to use CTN or ECTN. Portuguese-speaking countries (Angola, Guinea-Bissau) use their own terms like CNCA and CEE.

In all cases, the certificate contains the same information: shipper and consignee details, cargo description, vessel information, port of loading and discharge, and the bill of lading number. The application and issuance process is also essentially the same across countries.

Why Do the Names Differ?

There are three main reasons why the same certificate goes by so many different names:

1. Language

The most obvious reason is linguistic. Africa is a multilingual continent. French-speaking West and Central African countries naturally translate the certificate name into French (Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison), while English-speaking countries use the English term (Cargo Tracking Note). Portuguese-speaking Angola and Guinea-Bissau use their own translations.

2. Regulatory Bodies

Some countries name the certificate after the regulatory authority that manages it. Angola’s CNCA is named after the Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola — the national shippers’ council. This is similar to how some countries name government programmes after the administering ministry rather than the programme itself.

3. Historical Implementation

Different countries adopted cargo tracking requirements at different times, sometimes modelling their systems on different templates. The DRC’s FERI and Sierra Leone’s ENS were established with distinct naming conventions that reflected local regulatory priorities. Some countries emphasised the “electronic” nature of the system (ECTN, BESC), while others kept a simpler name (CTN, BSC).

Do I Need Different Certificates for Different Countries?

Yes. Even though all these certificates serve the same purpose, each country issues its own certificate independently. A BSC issued for Cameroon cannot be used for a shipment to Senegal. A CTN for Somalia is not valid for goods arriving in Nigeria.

If you are shipping to multiple African countries that require cargo tracking certificates, you will need to apply for and obtain a separate certificate for each destination country. Each application will go through that country’s specific validation process, and each certificate will have its own unique reference number.

For example, if you have one container going to Angola and another going to Djibouti, you would need both a CNCA certificate and an ECTN certificate — one for each shipment and destination.

Frequently Asked Questions