ECTN vs CTN: what is the difference?

ECTN and CTN are the same kind of document: a cargo tracking note, under the name each destination gives it. Which one you need depends only on where the cargo is going.

	ECTN	CTN
Name printed on it	Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	Cargo Tracking Note
What it is	Electronic tracking note for the port of discharge	Cargo tracking note
Destinations	Burkina Faso Djibouti Gambia Republic of the Congo Somalia South Sudan	Sierra Leone
Who applies	The shipper or the freight forwarder files it.	The shipper or the freight forwarder files it.
Deadline (per destination)	Burkina Faso Before departure Djibouti no number of days published Gambia no number of days published Republic of the Congo Within 5 days of loading Somalia no number of days published South Sudan Original B/L within 5 days	Sierra Leone 5 days before arrival
Documents asked most often	Bill of lading asked by 6 of 6 destinations Commercial invoice asked by 6 of 6 destinations Freight invoice asked by 6 of 6 destinations Export customs declaration asked by 2 of 6 destinations Packing list asked by 1 of 6 destinations	Bill of lading asked by 1 of 1 destinations Commercial invoice asked by 1 of 1 destinations Freight invoice asked by 1 of 1 destinations

All about the ECTN All about the CTN

Frequently Asked Questions

Are ECTN and CTN the same?

ECTN and CTN are the same kind of document: a cargo tracking note, under the name each destination gives it. Which one you need depends only on where the cargo is going.

Which one do I need, ECTN or CTN?

The destination decides: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Sudan for ECTN; Sierra Leone for CTN.

Which countries ask for the ECTN?

Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Sudan.

Which countries ask for the CTN?

Sierra Leone.

ECTN vs CTN: what is the difference?

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the certificate before the vessel sails