Exporting from Morocco to Cameroon, Gabon, Congo or DR Congo? LY2N organises the sea transport of your containers from Casablanca to Douala, Kribi, Libreville, Port-Gentil and Pointe-Noire, and on to Chad and the Central African Republic via the road corridors. We prepare the formalities specific to each country with you, in particular the BESC and BIETC, which are very costly to forget on arrival.

Our solutions to Central Africa

• Full container load (FCL) : 20' and 40' High Cube, on the services of the major shipping lines from Casablanca.
• Groupage (LCL) : for a few pallets, co-loaded with our groupage partners.
• Stuffing at your premises : delivery of the empty container to your premises, loading, then transport to the terminal.
• Landlocked countries : Chad and the Central African Republic served via the port of Douala, then by road.
• Out-of-gauge and project cargo : industrial equipment, machinery, construction or energy equipment.

Ports and destinations

Countries	Ports and access	Tracking document
Cameroon	Douala, Kribi	BESC
Gabon	Libreville (Owendo), Port-Gentil	BIETC
Congo	Pointe-Noire	BESC
DR Congo	Matadi, Boma, or via Pointe-Noire	ECTN (or FERI by air)
Chad	Via Douala, then road corridor	BESC (via Cameroon)
Central African Republic	Via Douala, then road corridor	ECTN

Indicative transit times from Casablanca

Destination	Indicative port-to-port transit time
Douala, Kribi	15 to 22 days
Libreville, Port-Gentil	18 to 25 days
Pointe-Noire	20 to 28 days
Matadi (DR Congo)	25 to 35 days
Chad, Central African Republic (after Douala)	+ 10 to 20 days by road

Indicative transit times, depending on the shipping line and transhipments. Services to Central Africa are less frequent than to West Africa: a container that misses its vessel may wait one to two weeks for the next one. We give you a precise transit time with every quote.

The cargo tracking note: BESC, BIETC, ECTN

Every Central African country requires an electronic cargo tracking note. Its number must appear on the bill of lading. Penalties for not having one are among the heaviest on the continent.

• Cameroon (BESC) : required for all imported or exported goods. A copy of the import declaration is requested. Without a BESC on arrival, penalties reach about 150% of the cost of the note.
• Gabon (BIETC) : issued by the Gabonese Shippers' Council. The file includes the B/L, the commercial invoice with the Incoterm, the freight invoice if freight is not shown on the invoice, and the customs declaration. It must be validated no later than 5 days after the vessel leaves an African port. Metals are subject to pre-shipment inspection. Fines are calculated as a multiple of the freight, with the goods held at Libreville or Port-Gentil.
• Congo (BESC) : the number must be given to the shipping line before the vessel arrives. It is issued on the basis of the B/L and the final commercial documents.
• DR Congo (ECTN) : required for imports and exports. Validation must be requested at least 5 business days before the vessel departs, or a surcharge applies.
• Central African Republic (ECTN) : mandatory for all goods, or fines and penalties apply on arrival.

Any change after pre-validation is slow and costly: we check with you that the B/L, invoice and export declaration are consistent before submitting the request.

How your export works with LY2N

1. Quote : final destination and the type, weight and volume of the goods. You receive a detailed offer within one business day, including the required tracking note.
2. Booking : we book the vessel and confirm the cut-off date for delivering the container to the terminal.
3. Stuffing and export : empty container delivered to you, loading, export declaration and customs release.
4. Documents : draft B/L for approval, then BESC, BIETC or ECTN arranged with your customer or our local correspondent.
5. Tracking : we track loading, any transhipments and arrival, in liaison with the consignee or their forwarder.

Duties and taxes on arrival

Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic belong to CEMAC, which applies a common external tariff. Duties and taxes are paid on arrival by the consignee, depending on the agreed Incoterm. DR Congo applies its own tariff. We help you provide the origin documents and supporting documents requested by the importer.

Our tips for a smooth export

• Deliver the container to the terminal early : a container that is not loaded is rolled over to the next vessel, with a new B/L and sometimes a two-week delay.
• Start the tracking note at booking : for Gabon, the deadline runs from vessel departure.
• Final documents before any request : a BESC or BIETC changed after pre-validation is charged, sometimes heavily.
• State the final destination : for Chad or the Central African Republic, the B/L, the tracking note and the road transit must show it.
• Choose the release method : original B/L, telex release or seaway bill, depending on your payment terms with the customer.

Why choose LY2N for Central Africa

• An Africa specialisation : regular shipments to Douala, Libreville and Pointe-Noire for Moroccan manufacturers.
• Local correspondents for follow-up on arrival and for issuing tracking notes.
• Command of formalities : BESC, BIETC, ECTN, origin documents.
• Integrated export customs clearance with our sister company, a licensed customs broker.
• A fast response : quote within one business day.

Also exporting to Senegal, Ivory Coast or the Gulf of Guinea? See our page sea freight Morocco → West Africa.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a container take from Casablanca to Douala?

Usually allow 15 to 22 days port to port, depending on the line and transhipments. Libreville and Pointe-Noire are a little further. We give you the exact transit time with every quote.

What is Gabon's BIETC?

It is the electronic cargo identification and tracking note, mandatory for all goods arriving in Gabon. It is issued by the Gabonese Shippers' Council on the basis of the B/L, commercial invoice, freight invoice and customs declaration. Its number must appear on the B/L.

What happens without a BESC or BIETC?

The goods may be held at the port of arrival, with fines that can exceed the cost of transport, plus storage charges. Never ship without this document.

Can you deliver to Chad or the Central African Republic?

Yes, via the port of Douala then by road, with our local partners. Transit time and cost depend heavily on the corridor and season: we study each request.

Do you ship to DR Congo?

Yes, to Matadi or via Pointe-Noire depending on the final destination. The ECTN must be validated at least 5 business days before the vessel departs.

Who pays customs duties at destination?

Usually the consignee, depending on the agreed Incoterm. In the CEMAC zone, the common external tariff applies.