Sierra Leone
Cargo Tracking Note
CTNCargo tracking note
Shipments to Sierra Leone need a CTN (Cargo Tracking Note). The CTN for Sierra Leone must be validated at least 5 days before the vessel arrives.
When is it required?
The CTN for Sierra Leone must be validated at least 5 days before the vessel arrives.
Who applies?
The shipper or the freight forwarder files it.
How long does it take?
Draft the same day once the application is complete.
Sierra Leone CTN guide
Who runs it, where the cargo discharges, and the rules your file is checked against.
- Issuing body
- Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) / Maritime Administration
- Port of discharge
- Freetown
Rules to know
- The CTN number is issued at validation, so it cannot be given in advance.
- The Incoterm must be shown on the commercial invoice.
- For vehicles, the chassis number must be shown on the bill of lading.
- Cargo without a valid CTN before the vessel arrives incurs a USD 1,000 penalty, payable at the destination port.
- The authority does not require the CTN number on the master bill of lading, but some carriers ask for it.
- On RoRo shipments, each chassis number is charged separately.
- The RoRo surcharge for trucks is calculated on the maximum loadable weight.
Documents to prepare for Sierra Leone
Tick what you already have. Send them when the list is complete, or send what you have now and we tell you what is missing.
List from our operations team, updated 4 August 2026.
Before you apply
Send your documents, we check them first
Upload the draft bill of lading or invoice. We check the details the CTN needs and tell you what to fix before anything is filed.
- Your files go only to our certificate team.
- You decide whether to apply after our reply.
Sierra Leone Authorities made a new regulation in 2000 that made all shipments coming to Sierra Leone’s Freetown port obliged to have an ENS certificate. And without this certificate, there will be damaging consequences and significant amounts of penalties. But if you are using Sierra Leone for transit reasons, in some cases, an ENS certificate isn’t necessary.
Knowing that this certificate is mandatory, you would think no one would miss it, but the situation is a lot different than that. It is one of the most overlooked and missed certificates despite being crucial and necessary.
We are available 24 hours to provide you full consultancy to obtain the Sierra Leone Cargo Tracking Note. We also offer local payment options so your journey with ctncertificate.com will be comfortable.
What is Sierra Leone ENS / BSC / CTN?
ENS is short for Entry/Exit Summary Number. It serves the same purpose as the CTN certificate, which stands for Cargo Tracking Note. As the name suggests, it enables authorities to track, manage, and supervise all cargos arriving on Sierra Leone’s shores. Additionally, it provides them with the necessary information about the shipments before they arrive at the destination. This includes details about the exporter, the importer, information about the goods being transported and their value, the cost of the freight, the type of shipment, the name of the vessel, and more.
What are the required documents?
Here, you can find the BSC Certificate requirements.
- Bill of Lading: This is a document that includes details about the exporter, the importer, the weight of the goods, the shipping line, the vessel name, etc. It also has to contain an issue date and a shipped on board date.
- Commercial Invoice: It contains details of the goods, the freight cost, the incoterm, and some other charges if there is any, etc.
- Freight Invoice: This is only required if the freight cost isn’t on the commercial invoice.
What are the consequences of not having it?
You have to provide the ENS certificate five days before the vessel arrives at the latest. If not, you will be facing a fine twice the amount of the ENS cost plus the regulation fee determined by the Sierra Leone Port Officials.
Pricing
Certificate cost depends on the number of Bill of Ladings and the containers, the country of origin, the port of discharge, etc. This is why we can’t give you an exact price for the CTN. But if you share your shipment’s details with us we can send you an exact quote for your certificate. We offer free quotation.
Memberships and certifications
Membership
Certifications
- ISO 9001:2015Quality management
- ISO 14001Environmental management
- ISO/IEC 27001Information security management
