South Sudan
Electronic Cargo Tracking Note
ECTNElectronic tracking note for the port of discharge
Shipments to South Sudan need a ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note). Once the ECTN reference for South Sudan is issued, the original bill of lading must follow within 5 days, or the certificate is cancelled.
When is it required?
Once the ECTN reference for South Sudan is issued, the original bill of lading must follow within 5 days, or the certificate is cancelled.
Who applies?
The shipper or the freight forwarder files it.
How long does it take?
Draft the same day once the application is complete.
South Sudan ECTN guide
Who runs it, where the cargo discharges, and the rules your file is checked against.
- Port of discharge
- Juba (dry port, via Mombasa)
Rules to know
- The ECTN number is issued at validation, so it cannot be given in advance.
- The final, dated master bill of lading is needed before validation.
- Shipper, consignee and notify party addresses must be the same on every document.
- The weight on the export declaration must match the bill of lading.
- The statistical value on the export declaration must match the commercial invoice.
- For shipper-owned containers, the tare weight must be shown on the bill of lading.
- A pre-validated certificate must be completed within its validity period, or it is cancelled.
Documents to prepare for South Sudan
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 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.
In 2019, South Sudan officials introduced a regulation requiring all shipments to South Sudan to be accompanied by an ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note). Failure to comply results in severe consequences and substantial penalty fees. However, for cargoes merely transiting through South Sudan, an ECTN may not be necessary in some cases.
Despite its mandatory status and importance, the ECTN remains one of the most frequently missed and overlooked documents.
What is South Sudan ECTN?
ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) concisely captures its purpose within its name. This certificate empowers authorities to track, manage, and supervise cargo from loading to discharge. Additionally, it facilitates the acquisition of information about shipments before their arrival at the destination. It details the exporter, importer, goods transported along with their value, freight cost, shipment type, and the vessel’s name, among other things.
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.
- Export Customs Declaration: This document contains information about the goods getting transported and has a detailed description of them.
What are the consequences of not having this certificate?
The ECTN certificate must be validated at least five days before the vessel’s arrival at the destination. Failure to provide the certificate within this timeframe will result in a fine equal to twice the amount of the ECTN cost plus any regulation charges set by the South Sudan National 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
