What is a CTN?

A cargo tracking note is an electronic record of a sea shipment — parties, cargo, value and ports — that the destination country requires before discharge. Each country prints its own name on it. The names below appear exactly as printed and are not translated.

Benin asks for a , Senegal for a and Kenya for an .

What is CTN? Everything About It.

CTN stands for Cargo Tracking Note. It is also known as BSC, BESC, FERI, ENS, CNCA (CNC, ARC), BIETC, ECTN and CEE. They are all the same type of certificate with different names. For instance, BSC is the French translation of CTN.

Cargo Tracking Note or CTN is a loading certificate which is mandatory for many West African Countries. Every country has its own regulations and requirements for this certificate. For some countries, it is required even before your shipment is loaded into the vessel, while for others, it is required within 5 days after departure, at the latest. Detailed information about the requirements for each country can be found on their respective dedicated web pages.

You can click the names of the countries to see their dedicated pages.

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Where CTN is Mandatory

Filter by document type. Each country page lists the documents to prepare.

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30 countries

Why do countries use CTN?

The CTN (Cargo Tracking Note) certificate, as implied by its name, is used for tracking cargo. Its purpose is to provide authorities with information about the contents arriving at their ports. This helps in preventing the smuggling of illegal items and supplies necessary data regarding exports and imports.

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.

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Useful Links

What is ECTN Number? How to get one?

How to choose the CTN service provider? Pros and Cons

Different names of ECTN by country

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

Every cargo tracking certificate name, and where it applies

Which documents do I need?

When must my certificate be validated?

Which certificates does my route need?

Regulation updates

Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s the difference between CTN, CNCA and other terms?

CTN is basically a Cargo Tracking Note. Many countries call it by different names such as CNCA, BESC, FERI and many other names but they all refer to cargo tracking note (CTN). Our staff can help you learn more.

Who needs to obtain CTN?

All cargo entering the destination country require the CTN. In rare cases, such as in-transit you might be exempted from the requirement of CTN. Contact us to let you know if you are exempted.

What information is included in the CTN?

CTN includes details such as the shipper’s information, consignee’s information, cargo description, and vessel details.

Is CTN valid for multiple shipments?

No, each shipment requires a separate CNCA certificate. Contact us to get clarity.

What are the consequences of not having a CTN?

Cargo that does not have a valid CTN may face delays, fines, or even rejection at the destination ports. Also, note that each country have different policies for not having the CTN and the process to get one. Our helpful experts can support you throughout the process.

How long does it take to obtain a CTN?

We provide draft CTN the same day.

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Printed names

Printed name	Meaning	Countries
Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons	Electronic cargo tracking note, validated before loading	Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Guinea (Conakry), Liberia, Mali, Niger, Togo
Electronic Cargo Tracking Note	Electronic tracking note for the port of discharge	Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan
Advance Cargo Declaration	Advance declaration of the cargo, filed before loading	Kenya, Sudan, Yemen
Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons	Cargo tracking note, validated before loading	Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Senegal
Advance Cargo Information Declaration	Advance cargo information number, obtained before shipping	Egypt
Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Cargas e Logística de Angola	Angola's loading certificate	Angola
Bordereau d'Identification Électronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons	Electronic cargo identification and traceability note	Gabon
Certificado Electrónico de Embarque	Electronic shipping certificate	Guinea-Bissau
Cargo Tracking Note	Cargo tracking note	Sierra Leone
Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l'Importation	Electronic import information sheet	DR Congo
—	Equatorial Guinea's cargo tracking certificate	Equatorial Guinea
Smart Port Note	Ghana's cargo tracking note for Tema and Takoradi	Ghana

Who issues it

The body designated by the destination country: a shippers’ council, port authority or customs service. An independent provider such as CTN Certificate prepares and files the application; it does not issue the certificate.