Cargo Tracking Note (CTN)

A mandatory pre-shipment electronic declaration required by many West and Central African states before cargo loads for their ports. Also called a BSC (Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons) or ENS in some jurisdictions, it records shipper, consignee, vessel, bill of lading, and freight so the destination authority can validate the shipment before arrival. A missing or invalid CTN draws fines and discharge delays at ports such as those in the Republic of Congo, Angola, and several ECOWAS states.