Hargeisa, Somaliland – Somaliland is preparing to introduce a new electronic system that could significantly reshape how goods are monitored as they move through its ports. The Somaliland Ports Authority has announced that it will begin implementing the Somaliland Electronic Cargo Tracking Note, a digital platform designed to record cargo information long before ships reach local shores.
The initiative marks a notable step for Somaliland’s maritime sector, which has expanded rapidly alongside rising trade volumes. Officials believe that relying on manual paperwork and fragmented data has made it difficult to track shipments accurately, often leaving room for delays, misreporting, and disagreements between shippers, agents, and port authorities.
Under the new system, all cargo must be registered electronically before a vessel departs its port of origin. This advance documentation is expected to reduce the kind of last-minute confusion that has sometimes slowed offloading operations. It also gives port teams a clearer picture of what to expect, allowing them to plan unloading, storage, and customs processes more efficiently.
For the Ports Authority, this upgrade is not just about modernizing logistics. It is part of a broader effort to reinforce transparency and bring Somaliland’s port management standards closer to those used by major regional hubs. Leaders at the authority argue that a more predictable and traceable cargo chain will help curb corruption risks and improve trust among importers, exporters, and international shipping companies.
The system’s forecasting capabilities could also be a game-changer. With earlier access to cargo data, the authority can anticipate congestion, allocate equipment on time, and avoid bottlenecks that previously slowed operations during busy periods. Businesses relying on the port are hopeful that smoother logistics will translate into lower costs and faster turnover.
As Somaliland positions itself as a growing trade corridor linking the Horn of Africa to global markets, the rollout of the ECTN is seen as a timely investment. Port officials say they are readying staff and systems for the transition, confident that the digital shift will strengthen the port’s competitiveness and improve service reliability for years to come.