Port of Lake Charles

🇺🇸 USA

Caribbean Sea · LNG Terminal

UN/LOCODE
USLCH
Country
🇺🇸 USA
Port Type
LNG Terminal
Ocean Region
Caribbean Sea
Latitude
30.2200° N
Longitude
93.2200° W

Maritime Risk Context

In the last 180 days, ArcNautical recorded 77 vessel arrivals at Lake Charles, with Unknown accounting for 53% of port calls — higher than the Caribbean Sea regional average of 23%. Lake Charles in USA operates within a strategic crossroads connecting North and South American trade with the Panama Canal, Gulf of Mexico energy complex, and transatlantic routes. Hurricane season (June 1 – November 30) is the dominant natural hazard; category 4 and 5 systems generate winds above 130 knots and storm surges that devastate port infrastructure. Track forecasting has improved, but rapid intensification remains difficult to predict beyond 48–72 hours. Venezuela sanctions represent a significant compliance challenge for any vessel operating in the basin — the US has maintained comprehensive sanctions against Venezuela's oil sector since 2019, and the framework is modified frequently through general and specific licenses. Vessels with prior Venezuelan port calls face enhanced OFAC scrutiny.

Read the full Caribbean Sea risk briefing →

Top Vessel Types (last 180 days)

Across 77 distinct vessel arrivals, 73 carry a confirmed AIS ship-type code. The most common categories at Lake Charles:

53%
Unknown
39 vessels
19%
Tug
14 vessels
14%
Towing
10 vessels
4%
Cargo
3 vessels
4%
Tanker
3 vessels

Port State Control Context

Lake Charles falls under the US Coast Guard. The US Coast Guard operates its own Port State Control programme rather than participating in a regional MoU. The USCG Port State Control Annual Report publishes detention statistics by flag and class society. ArcNautical evaluates per-vessel detention probability using flag performance (USCG QUALSHIP 21 status where applicable), vessel age, deficiency history, and ownership opacity.

Recent Arrivals at Lake Charles

Last 10 vessel arrivals recorded by ArcNautical's AIS pipeline (last 90 days):

ArrivedVesselFlagType
2026-06-13 BRANDON JOHN 🇺🇸 US Towing
2026-06-12 BRANDON JOHN 🇺🇸 US Towing
2026-06-12 DEBORAH H VALENTINE 🇺🇸 US Unknown
2026-06-10 RITA 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-06-10 BRANDON JOHN 🇺🇸 US Towing
2026-06-10 SEA RHINO 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-06-10 EDWARD JONES JR. 🇺🇸 US Unknown
2026-06-09 WILSEY DUPRE 🇺🇸 US Unknown
2026-06-09 CAPTAIN EDDIE 🇺🇸 US Towing
2026-06-09 RIVER VIKING 🇺🇸 US Unknown

Score a Voyage from Lake Charles

Plan and score a voyage from Lake Charles using 10 intelligence signals. Get composite risk scores, route-level threat exposure, sanctions screening, and fuel/CII estimates.

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Nearby Ports

🇺🇸 Sabine Pass
USA · LNG Terminal · ~45 nm
🇺🇸 Beaumont
USA · Tanker Terminal · ~46 nm
🇺🇸 Houston
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~98 nm
🇺🇸 Freeport (TX)
USA · Tanker Terminal · ~135 nm
🇺🇸 New Orleans
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~166 nm
🇺🇸 Gulfport
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~214 nm
🇺🇸 Corpus Christi
USA · Tanker Terminal · ~263 nm
🇺🇸 Mobile
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~270 nm