All maritime shipments with Mali as the final destination require a mandatory Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BESC), also known as an Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN). This document, issued under the regulations of the official authorities, is strictly required for all customs declarations and clearance procedures at all border entry points and dry ports, including Bamako.
As the officially authorized agent for Mali, the Pelship Team ensures that your documentation is processed with the highest level of regulatory precision. Adhering to our verified operational procedures is critical to protecting your landlocked supply chain from costly friction, container redirection, or severe financial penalties during destination clearance.
Compliance Checklist:
Mandatory Status: The BESC is a strict legal requirement for all cargo entering Mali, regardless of the maritime transit port used.
The Hinterland Protocol: Because Mali is a landlocked nation, cargo must be discharged at a coastal gateway (such as Dakar, Senegal or Conakry, Guinea) before being transported inland.
Dual-Certificate Verification: Depending on the specific bilateral agreements of your transit route, you may require a BESC for both Mali and the coastal transit country. Our team checks your route prior to loading to ensure full compliance.
Timing: To ensure a fast, efficient, and safe entry, shippers and forwarders must secure and validate the certificate at the port of loading well before the vessel arrives at the transit port.
Operational Risk: Navigating Malian customs or transit borders without an officially validated BESC exposes your shipment to significant administrative fines, lengthy port holds, and escalating demurrage charges.
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.
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 not inserted in CI
- Packing List
Regulations
- BESC has to be issued at Port of loading;
- BESC N° has to be indicated in the B/L and manifest;
- BESC must be shown for custom clearance to the Exclusive representative
- The discharge of a consignment not covered by a BESC is an infraction. It prevents gate exit from the Port of Discharge, on carriage, entrance in the National Territory (Mali) and the custom clearance of the good’s consignment.