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East Africa Kenya ACD Djibouti ECTN Somalia ECTN South Sudan ECTN Burundi ECTN Madagascar BSC Central Africa D.R. Congo FERI Cameroon BESC Gabon BIETC Chad ECTN Rep. Congo ECTN Angola CNCA Eq. Guinea ECTN C.A.R. ECTN West Africa Nigeria ICTN Ghana ECTN Ivory Coast BSC Senegal BSC Benin BESC Togo ECTN Mali BSC Niger BSC Burkina Faso ECTN Liberia CTN Sierra Leone BSC The Gambia CTN Guinea ECTN Guinea Bissau CEE North Africa Egypt ACID Algeria ECTN Libya ECTN All services
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Home / Certificates / BESC
BESC 2 destinations Filed before loading

BESC certificate

The cargo tracking note used by Cameroon and Benin, filed before loading for shipments to Douala, Kribi and Cotonou.

24–48 hrsTypical issuance
0Destinations
0Ports covered
4Core documents

What is a BESC?

The BESC is the francophone Central and West African form of the cargo tracking note. Cameroon and Benin each run their own system under the same name, administered by their respective national shippers' councils. The number issued must be endorsed on the Bill of Lading before the vessel sails.

Douala is the main gateway not only for Cameroon but for Chad and the Central African Republic, so a large share of BESC traffic is transit cargo. That makes the declared destination and routing details particularly important, since the document follows the cargo beyond the port of discharge.

Full name: Bordereau Electronique de Suivi de Cargaison. The reference number must be endorsed on the final Bill of Lading before the container is loaded.
Questions

BESC FAQs

Is Cameroon's BESC the same as Benin's?
They share a name and a purpose but are separate national systems with their own authorities and their own numbers. A BESC issued for Cameroon is not valid for Benin.
Does transit cargo through Douala need a BESC?
Yes. Cargo destined for Chad or the Central African Republic but discharged at Douala is declared for the Cameroonian leg, and the inland destination generally has its own requirement as well.
Which documents are required?
The draft Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export customs declaration. A packing list is commonly requested in addition.
When must it be obtained?
Before loading at the port of origin. The reference has to appear on the final Bill of Lading, so applying after the vessel sails means an amendment rather than an issue.
Coverage

Countries requiring a BESC

Each has its own documents and deadlines. Open a destination for the detail.

Cameroon Cameroon Douala +1 BESC Benin Benin Cotonou BESC
Requirements

Documents required

Every BESC starts from the same four documents. Some destinations ask for more — the panel cycles through each country.

  
 
 Issued electronically as PDF
Reference number Goes on your final B/L
Destination Port of discharge
StatusValidatedAccepted by the authority
Endorse the reference on the Bill of Lading before the container is loaded.

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