Somalia
Electronic Cargo Tracking Note
ECTNElectronic tracking note for the port of discharge
Shipments to Somalia need a ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note).
Who applies?
The shipper or the freight forwarder files it.
How long does it take?
Draft the same day once the application is complete.
Somalia ECTN guide
Who runs it, where the cargo discharges, and the rules your file is checked against.
- Issuing body
- Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport
- Port of discharge
- MogadishuBerberaKismayo
Documents to prepare for Somalia
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 20 July 2026.
Before you apply
Send your documents, we check them first
Upload the draft bill of lading or invoice. We check the details the ECTN 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.
A Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), a necessary loading document, is required for all shipments to Somalia as of February 1, 2023, according to the law established by the Somali Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport. An CTN must accompany all cargoes to Somalia and the number must be written on the Bill of Lading. If not, there will be severe outcomes and a significant amount of penalty fees.
Although it is mandatory and crucial, it is still one of the most missed and overlooked certificates.
What is Somalia CTN?
CTN is short for Cargo Tracking Note also known as a ECTN or BESC. It is a name that explains its purpose very well. Because it is a certificate that allows the authorities to track, manage, and supervise the cargos from loading to discharge. It also helps them to gain information about the shipments before they even arrive at the destination. It contains information about the exporter, the importer, information about the goods getting transported and their value, the cost of the freight, the type of shipment, the name of the vessel, etc.
What are the required documents?
- 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.
- Commercial Invoice: It contains details of the goods, the freight cost, the incoterm, and some other charges if there is any, etc.
- Freight Invoice: It is only mandatory if the freight cost isn’t on the commercial invoice.
What are the consequences of not having this certificate?
The CTN certificate must be validated five days before the vessel arrives at the destination at the latest. If you fail to provide the certificate at the given time, you will be facing a fine twice the amount of the ECTN cost plus the regulation charges determined by the Somali Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport.
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
Updates for Somalia
- ECTNSomalia: ECTN required for every container at every port from 14 October 2025By a Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport directive (ref. XW/WDGB/89/09/2025, 30 September 2025), every container arriving at any port of the Federal Republic of Somalia must have a valid ECTN from 14 October 2025.
- ECTNSomalia: ECTN number required on the bill of lading from 29 April 2023Since 29 April 2023, the ECTN reference number must be written on the bill of lading of every shipment to Somalia.
