Sea freight Morocco → West Africa
Containers and groupage from Casablanca to Dakar, Abidjan, Tema, Lomé, Cotonou and Douala
Exporting from Morocco to West Africa? LY2N handles the sea transport of your goods from Casablanca to Dakar, Abidjan, Tema, Lomé, Cotonou and on to Douala and Pointe-Noire: booking, container stuffing, export formalities and tracking until arrival. Building materials, cables, sanitary ware, industrial or food products: every week we ship Moroccan containers to the continent.
Our solutions to West Africa
- Full container load (FCL) : 20' and 40' High Cube, on direct shipping line services from Casablanca.
- Groupage (LCL) : for a few pallets, in a groupage container from Casablanca.
- Collection from your premises : we arrange delivery of the empty container, stuffing at your premises and transport to the terminal.
- Out-of-gauge and project cargo : industrial equipment, machinery and construction equipment, by Flat Rack, RoRo or breakbulk.
Ports served
| Countries | Ports |
|---|---|
| Senegal | Dakar |
| Ivory Coast | Abidjan, San Pedro |
| Ghana | Tema |
| Togo, Benin | Lomé, Cotonou |
| Guinea, Mauritania | Conakry, Nouakchott |
| Central Africa | Douala (Cameroon), Pointe-Noire (Congo), Libreville (Gabon) |
For Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and DR Congo, see our page sea freight Morocco → Central Africa : ports, transit times, BESC and BIETC.
Indicative transit times from Casablanca
| Destination | Indicative port-to-port transit time |
|---|---|
| Dakar, Nouakchott | 5 to 8 days |
| Abidjan, Conakry | 8 to 14 days |
| Tema, Lomé, Cotonou | 12 to 18 days |
| Douala, Pointe-Noire, Libreville | 15 to 25 days |
Indicative transit times, depending on the shipping line, direct or transhipment service and port calls. We give you a precise transit time with every quote.
How your export works with LY2N
- Quote : tell us the destination and the type, weight and volume of your goods. You receive a detailed offer within one business day.
- Booking : we book space with the shipping line and confirm the vessel, the port call and the cut-off date for delivering the container to the port.
- Empty container and stuffing : we collect the release order, seals and terminal receipt, then the empty container is delivered to you for loading.
- Export formalities : export declaration and customs release, certificate of origin, and cargo tracking note where the destination country requires it.
- Bill of lading : we send you the draft B/L for checking before it is issued, then the final B/L or seaway bill.
- Tracking until arrival : we track the vessel and stay in touch with your consignee or their forwarder until the goods are released.
Documents and formalities
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Export declaration (DUM) and Moroccan customs release
- Certificate of origin
- Cargo tracking note (BESC, BSC, ECTN, BIETC…) depending on the destination country: see the table below
- Depending on the goods: phytosanitary or health certificates, certificates of conformity required by the destination country
BESC, ECTN, BIETC: the cargo tracking note
Most West and Central African countries require an electronic cargo tracking note for all goods imported by sea. Often called a "waiver" by shipping lines, it has a different name in each country. Its number must appear on the bill of lading: without it, the line may refuse to load, and the goods risk being held on arrival with heavy penalties.
| Countries | Document | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Senegal | BESC | Validation completed by the importer on the ORBUS portal |
| Ivory Coast | BSC | Registration carried out jointly by the importer and the exporter |
| Togo | BESC | Also for goods in transit; any change after pre-validation is charged |
| Benin | BESC | Also for transit; state the final destination |
| Mali, Burkina Faso | BESC | Landlocked countries served via Dakar, Abidjan, Lomé or Cotonou; no loading for Mali without a BESC |
| Guinea | BESC | Goods without a BESC are held on arrival and penalised |
| Nigeria | ICTN | SONCAP certificate of conformity required before shipment |
| Liberia | CTN | If missing, a fine of twice the cost of the CTN |
| Cameroon | BESC | Copy of the import declaration required; penalties of about 150% of the cost of the BESC |
| Gabon | BIETC | Number mandatory on the B/L; to be obtained no later than 5 days after vessel departure from Africa; fines calculated as a multiple of the freight |
| Congo | BESC | Number to be given to the shipping line before the vessel arrives |
| DR Congo, Central African Republic | ECTN | For DR Congo, request validation at least 5 business days before vessel departure |
We prepare this tracking note with you and your customer: B/L, commercial invoice with the Incoterm, freight invoice and export declaration must be final and consistent before the request, as any later change is slow and costly.
Duties and taxes on arrival
Duties and taxes are paid by the consignee in the country of arrival, according to the local customs tariff, largely harmonised within ECOWAS for West Africa. Proof of Moroccan origin may give access to preferences in some countries. We help you gather the documents requested by the importer and their forwarder.
Our tips for a smooth export
- Meet the port cut-off date : a container arriving after the cut-off misses the vessel, with storage charges and a delay of at least a week.
- Check the draft B/L : shipper, consignee, notify party, weight and number of packages. Once the vessel sails, the manifest is closed and any correction becomes slow and costly.
- Plan the cargo tracking note early (BESC, BSC, BIETC…) from booking: without a number, the line may refuse to load and the goods may be held on arrival.
- Decide on the release method in advance : original B/L, telex release or seaway bill, depending on your payment terms with the customer.
- Identical weights on all documents : invoice, packing list, export declaration and B/L must match.
Why choose LY2N for your exports to Africa
- An Africa specialisation : we regularly ship containers to West and Central Africa for Moroccan manufacturers.
- Several shipping lines compared for every request: transit time, frequency and price.
- Integrated export customs clearance with our sister company, a licensed customs broker.
- Rigorous document control : B/L, BESC and origin documents checked before departure.
- A fast response : quote within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a container take from Casablanca to Abidjan?
Usually allow 8 to 14 days port to port depending on the line and service. Dakar is closer (5 to 8 days), the Gulf of Guinea and Central Africa a little further. We give you the exact transit time with every quote.
What is a BESC (or waiver)?
The electronic cargo tracking note is required by most West and Central African countries. Depending on the country, it is called BESC, BSC, ECTN, ICTN, CTN or BIETC. Its number must appear on the bill of lading. We arrange it with you from booking.
Who pays customs duties at destination?
Usually the consignee, depending on the agreed Incoterm. Duties depend on the tariff of the country of arrival. We help you provide the origin documents that may reduce them.
Can you ship just a few pallets?
Yes, by groupage from Casablanca to the main West African ports. For some destinations, groupage is co-loaded with a partner, which we state in the quote.
Can the empty container be delivered to my factory?
Yes. We arrange delivery of the empty container to your premises, stuffing, then the return of the full container to the terminal before the cut-off.
Do you also ship by road to Mauritania and Senegal?
Yes, on request, combining road and sea transport depending on the goods and urgency. See our Africa specialisation page or request a quote.