If you are shipping cargo by sea to Senegal, you need a validated BESC before your vessel reaches the Port of Dakar -- there are no exceptions. The BESC, also called the COSEC waiver or Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN), is a mandatory regulatory document for every sea shipment to Senegal. A missing, late, or mismatched BESC is one of the fastest ways to rack up storage and penalty charges in Dakar. This guide covers what the BESC is, who needs one, how to obtain it step by step, what it typically costs, and the mistakes that cost importers the most time and money.
What Is the BESC?
The BESC (Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons), known in English as the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note or ECTN, is a digital cargo-tracking document required for all sea freight destined for Senegal. It is issued under the authority of COSEC -- the Conseil Senegalais des Chargeurs, or Senegalese Shippers' Council -- which uses it to record the details of every consignment before it arrives in the country.
The requirement is not optional or carrier-specific: it has been mandatory for all maritime imports since an interministerial decree took effect in 2008. The BESC links the commercial data of your shipment -- shipper, consignee, cargo description, freight value, and bill of lading -- to a single reference number that Senegalese customs and port authorities check on arrival. Think of it as the regulatory key that lets your cargo enter the clearance process at all. Without that number, your file simply cannot move forward at Dakar.
Who Needs a BESC -- and What Happens Without One
Every bill of lading covering cargo discharged in Senegal needs its own validated BESC. That applies to full-container loads, groupage, breakbulk, vehicles (RoRo), project cargo, and even personal effects. If it arrives by sea and clears through a Senegalese port, it needs a BESC -- one per bill of lading.
Shipping without one is expensive. Cargo that arrives with no validated BESC, or with a BESC that does not match the bill of lading, cannot be cleared until the document is regularised. Meanwhile the container sits at the terminal accruing storage and demurrage, the consignee faces a penalty for late or post-arrival validation, and the whole shipment stalls. The cost of getting the BESC right at origin is a fraction of the cost of fixing it after the vessel has docked.
How to Obtain a BESC in Senegal: Step by Step
The BESC is created and validated at the port of loading -- not in Dakar -- which is why it has to be set up while your cargo is still at origin. The process runs through COSEC's electronic platform, usually handled by an approved agent or your freight forwarder. Here is the sequence:
- Gather your documents. You need the bill of lading (a draft is enough to start), the commercial invoice, and the freight invoice showing the actual freight amount. A packing list is often required for breakbulk or multi-line cargo.
- Open a draft BESC at booking. As soon as the booking is confirmed, a draft can be opened on the COSEC platform using provisional details. Starting early is the single biggest factor in avoiding delays.
- Finalise the data against the bill of lading. Once the carrier issues the final bill of lading, the BESC data must be updated to match it exactly -- cargo description, weights, container numbers, and freight value all have to agree with the BL.
- Pay the fee and obtain the validated number. The BESC fee is settled at origin and COSEC issues a validated BESC reference number.
- Validate before the vessel arrives. Validation has to be completed before the ship reaches Dakar. This is the hard deadline -- a BESC validated after arrival is treated as late and triggers penalties.
- Hand the number to your Dakar clearing agent. The validated BESC number feeds into the customs declaration filed through Senegal's ORBUS single window and the GAINDE customs system. Without it, the declaration cannot be completed.
Validation typically takes one to three working days once the documents are complete and consistent. The draft-then-final flow exists precisely so you can lock in the BESC early and only refine the details once the BL is issued -- there is no advantage to waiting.
BESC Cost in Senegal
Pricing is set by COSEC and collected at origin, so exact figures depend on the issuing agent and your cargo. As a guide to how it works rather than a quote: the BESC is typically charged as a fixed fee per bill of lading, with the amount scaling by cargo type and the number of containers or HS headings on the document. Containerised cargo, vehicles, and breakbulk are usually priced on different scales, and a bill of lading covering several containers will cost more than a single-box shipment.
Two things reliably push the cost up. The first is late or post-arrival validation, which typically attracts a penalty that can be several times the standard fee. The second is correction of errors after validation, which may require reissuing the document. The cheapest BESC is always the one opened early and validated right the first time. Treat any figure you see online as indicative only and confirm the current tariff with your agent before booking.
Common Mistakes and Penalties
Most BESC problems are avoidable, and they cluster around the same handful of errors:
- Requesting the BESC after the vessel has sailed -- or after it has arrived. This is the most common and most expensive mistake. Post-arrival validation is penalised and slows clearance while the file is regularised.
- Cargo descriptions that do not match the bill of lading. Any discrepancy between the BESC, the BL, the commercial invoice, and the packing list will be flagged. Mismatched weights, container numbers, or HS codes all cause rejection.
- Missing the freight invoice or declared freight value. The BESC requires the actual freight amount; leaving it out or understating it holds up validation.
- Validating for the wrong port or consignee. A BESC issued against the wrong discharge port or the wrong consignee details has to be corrected, often at additional cost.
The downstream penalty is rarely just the COSEC fine. Every day a container waits for a corrected BESC is a day of storage and demurrage, and demurrage at Dakar accumulates fast. A single document check at booking time prevents nearly all of it. For a fuller picture of how the BESC fits the wider import process, see our guide to customs clearance in West Africa and our practical guide to shipping through the Port of Dakar.
How WTL Handles the BESC for You
WTL has processed BESC waivers for importers into Dakar for over two decades, and our origin network opens and validates the document while your cargo is still at the port of loading. We check the bill of lading, commercial invoice, and freight invoice against COSEC's requirements before the vessel sails, so the BESC is validated on time and matches the BL exactly -- no surprises at the terminal.
For most clients the BESC is simply one step we manage as part of ocean freight to Dakar, alongside customs clearance and port handling. If you have a shipment coming, request a quote and we will take the BESC off your plate entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BESC mandatory for every shipment to Senegal?
Yes. Every bill of lading covering cargo discharged at a Senegalese port requires its own validated BESC, regardless of cargo type or carrier. It has been mandatory for all maritime imports since 2008.
Who issues the BESC?
The BESC is issued under the authority of COSEC, the Senegalese Shippers' Council, through its electronic platform. In practice it is opened and validated at the port of loading by an approved agent or your freight forwarder.
When does the BESC have to be validated?
Before the vessel arrives at the Port of Dakar. A draft can be opened at booking, but final validation must be completed before arrival -- a BESC validated after the ship docks is treated as late and incurs penalties.
What documents are needed to obtain a BESC?
The bill of lading (a draft is enough to open the BESC), the commercial invoice, and the freight invoice. A packing list is often needed for breakbulk. The BESC must then match the final bill of lading exactly.
How long is a BESC valid?
A BESC covers one specific shipment and bill of lading rather than a fixed time period -- it is valid for that consignment to its discharge port. A new shipment needs a new BESC.
How much does a BESC cost in Senegal?
COSEC sets the tariff and it is collected at origin. It is typically a fixed fee per bill of lading that scales with cargo type and the number of containers or HS headings. Late validation usually costs several times more, so confirm the current figure with your agent before booking.
What happens if I ship without a BESC?
Your cargo cannot be cleared until the BESC is regularised. The consignee faces a late-validation penalty, and the container accrues storage and demurrage at the terminal until the paperwork is corrected.
Can WTL obtain the BESC if my supplier is overseas?
Yes. Our origin network opens and validates the BESC at the port of loading wherever your supplier ships from, then matches it to the final bill of lading before the vessel sails.