The port is governed by a 15 member commission appointed by the Governor. The CEO is responsible for daily operations. The port is a political subdivision of Louisiana government. Self-generated funds from operations, leases and user fees are used to run the port.

In the 1930’s, the Federal Government created the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program to facilitate trade and increase global competitiveness of U.S.-based companies. By shipping into a FTZ, costly U.S. Customs duties can be deferred, reduced or even eliminated. Importers are encouraged to participate in the FTZ program.

Louisiana has a number of excellent resources for businesses including the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, World Trade Center New Orleans and the Mississippi Valley Trade and Transport Council.

The Baton Rouge metro area is comprised of four parishes: East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston. The Baton Rouge Metro population is 604,000 and the median income is $27,000. As the state’s capital, Baton Rouge’s major industry segments are state government and the petrochemical industry. Two major universities, Louisiana State University and Southern University, make major contributions to both the lifestyle and economy of the Baton Rouge metro area.

The Port of Greater Baton Rouge serves the four parish metro. More specifically, the port serves the petrochemical corridor. Through the diverse cargo handling, the port touches a four-state area.

Containers, sugar, forest products, steel, ores, grains, petroleum, specialty chemicals, molasses are just a sampling of the products handled by the port.

The Port of Greater Baton Rouge ranks among the top ten U.S. ports in total tonnage. The port ranks 32 nd in the world.

The U.S. Inland Rivers Waterway System is made up of 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and canals, of which 12,000 miles are maintained by the federal government as commercial waterways.

The U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is the system of inland waterways, including rivers and canals, along the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It extends from Apalachee Bay, Florida west to the Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas, a distance of more than 1,100 miles.

Ro/Ro is a shortening of the term Roll-on/Roll-off Cargo. Ro/Ro is a method of ocean cargo service using a vessel with ramps which allows wheeled vehicles to be loaded and discharged without cranes.

Container-on-barge is an economical shipping method. Containerized cargo is loaded onto barges and moved to their destination via inland waterways.

Breakbulk is loose or non-containerized cargo. It can also mean the unloading and distribution of a portion of the contents of a rail car, container or trailer.

Bulk cargo is any cargo not shipped in packages or containers. Bulk cargo is shipped loose in the hold of a ship. Grain, coal and sulfur are usually bulk freight.

Containerized cargo is any cargo that can fit into a 20 or 40 foot container and result in an economical shipment.

Used as a standard unit of measure in shipping, a short ton equals 2,000 pounds.