ECTN Certification

The ECTN Certificate, or Electronic Cargo Tracking Note, is a mandatory document for shipping goods to most of the African countries. It contains detailed information about the shipment, enabling the clearance of the cargo by the authorities with an ECTN number for easy tracking.

This certificate is a key in watching over and managing how cargo is moved. It gives authorities quick and clear details about what the cargo is, how much it’s worth, and where it’s going. Because of this, it helps a lot in stopping illegal activities like fraud, under-reporting the value of goods, and smuggling. It ensures that there is accurate record-keeping and the right taxes are paid for everything that comes into these countries.

Although the procedure and duration of obtaining ECTN vary, the importance of the certificate is even across all countries.

ECTN   is also called CTN, BESC, BSC FERI, ARCCLA, CNCA.

ECTN Certificate Contains Information Such As:

• Nature and commercial value of cargo
• Parties involved in international trade
• Cargo movement between the ports

Factors of The ECTN Certificate:      

• An ECTN certificate should be prepared as per the original Bill of Lading.
• A shipper is responsible for obtaining the ECTN certificate.
•     All shipments that   do not have a valid ECTN number, cannot be unloaded at the port of destination until a valid ECTN number is issued

Importance of the ETCN Certificate

• Port authorities of respective African countries claim that the aim of the ECTN is to reduce risk, real-time monitoring and reliable assessments of import goods, their shippers, importers, and other details.
• Many Countries in the African continent require exporters to notify Custom Authorities about the shipment details before they arrive & the Cargo Tracking Note system facilitates this requirement.
• The ECTN certificate, also known as a waiver document, allows Marine Custom Authorities access information about exporter/ importer, shipping route and methods, type and value of the consignment, the value of freight as well as the details about commodities being carried in their respective countries.
• The loading document provides security assurance and allows customs authorities to trace the shipment before it arrives at the port of discharge.
• Shipping or arrival without ECTN certificate may result in high fines at the destination port, may cause delay resulting Detention and Demurrage.

Also, through the system, each destination country can maintain statistical data for future logistical monitoring.