The Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District (aka Port of Lake Charles) encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish and accommodates 5 million tons of cargo annually at its public facilities; it owns and operates three marine terminals, the City Docks, Bulk Terminal No. 1, and the Industrial Canal, and also 2 industrial parks. The Port of Lake Charles is the 12th largest seaport in the U.S. The Ship Channel has a project depth of 40 feet and a bottom width of 400 feet. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway intersects the Ship Channel 12 miles south of the City Docks. The Port's Industrial Canal Terminal intersects with the Ship Channel and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

The Industrial Canal is 3 miles long, has a 1,400-foot by 1,400-foot turning basin at its east end, a project depth of 40 feet, and a bottom width of 400 feet. The principal cargoes moving through the Port's terminals are bagged rice, flour and other food products, forest products, aluminum, petroleum coke and other petroleum products, woodchips, barites, and rutile.

The Port Director directs the operation of the Port under the authority of a seven-member Board of Commissioners.