All maritime shipments destined for Bangui as the final destination must be covered by a mandatory ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), also known as a BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons).
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Hinterland Compliance: Despite the Central African Republic being a landlocked (hinterland) destination, the BESC/ECTN remains strictly compulsory for all shipments.
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Transit via Cameroon: For cargo transiting through Douala or Kribi, only one BESC is required, specifically issued for the Central African Republic.
Compliance Check List:
Timing: Secure your certificate prior loading at POL.
Risk: Non-compliance leads to heavy fines and customs delays.
Amendment after validation: accepted, amendment fee applies.
The Pelship Promise: In a landscape of shifting rules, we serve as your Knowledge Hub. We verify every change at the source, ensuring that your compliance is handled with care and proper guidance.
Official Support through Pelship
Pelship is an officially recognized agent for the Central African Republic BESC. By leveraging our direct network, we ensure your applications are processed accurately and validated swiftly to keep your supply chain moving.
Protect your supply chain and prevent costly delays by submitting your high-resolution PDF documents (under 2MB per file) to the Pelship Team today for expert drafting and compliance validation.
Documents required:
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Freight Invoice (if incoterms and rate not included in the CI)
- Export Customs Declaration
Regulations
To ensure the smooth transit of your goods and avoid significant financial hits, please adhere to the following four pillars of the new mandate:
- Validation at Origin: The BESC must be issued and validated at the port of loading. It is a mandatory requirement for import customs clearance in CAR.
- No Loading Without BESC: Cargo will not be loaded onto vessels/vehicles without a pre-validated BESC. Failure to comply results in direct penalties for the shipper.
- Documentation Integration: Shipping lines are required to insert the unique BESC number into both the Bill of Lading and the Cargo Manifest.
- Customs Enforcement: Local customs will withhold clearance for any cargo lacking a valid BESC until all applicable fines (10x the standard rate) are paid in full.