ECTN vs BESC vs CNCA: What's the Difference?

ECTN, BESC, and CNCA are all African electronic cargo tracking certificates with similar functions. They differ in name, issuing authority, and applicable country.

Name Differences

ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note)

• Common name in English-speaking countries
• Often abbreviated as CTN
• Applicable countries: Ghana, Guinea, Somalia, Libya, South Sudan, Chad, etc.

BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi de Cargaison)

• Common name in French-speaking countries
• Also known as "Bordereau Électronique"
• Applicable countries: Benin, Cameroon, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, etc.

CNCA (Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola)

• Angolan National Shippers Council certificate
• Portuguese name, only for Angola
• Issued by the Angolan National Freight Forwarders Council

Other Common Names

• BSC: Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Senegal, Comoros, and other French/mixed-language countries
• FERI: Democratic Republic of the Congo
• ACID: Egypt
• ICTN: Nigeria
• ACD / ENS: Sudan, Libya, etc.

Which Certificate Do I Need?

The certificate type is determined by the destination country, not chosen by the shipper. Just tell us the destination country (or port) and we'll identify the correct certificate type and handle the application.

Common Features

Regardless of the name, all these certificates share core requirements:

• A valid number must be obtained before loading
• Used by destination customs for pre-shipment cargo review
• The certificate number must appear on the bill of lading
• Arrival without a valid certificate results in penalties and clearance delays