Founded in 1942, the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) governs the ports of Georgetown and Charleston in South Carolina. The port authority is tasked with bringing economic investment to the State. The port authority owns and operates the terminals, cranes, and storage yards in the Port of Georgetown. It is a self-supporting entity, funding operations with the ports' revenue streams and by issuing bonds. A nine-member Board of Directors oversees the SCSPA. The Governor appoints the board members, and the State Senate confirms the appointments. In 2011, the SCSPA handled almost 1800 ships and barges at the terminals in the Port of Georgetown and Charleston.

In 2011, the Port of Georgetown handled 456.5 thousand tons of cargo dominated by cement, petroleum coke, steel, forest products, and aggregates. The Port of Georgetown is a dedicated bulk and breakbulk facility. The Port of Georgetown has easy access to US Highway 17 and the inland network of roads. CSX Transportation provides on-terminal rail services in the Port of Georgetown.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority owns and jointly operates the Georgetown Terminal, State Pier No. 31, Berth A with the International Paper Company. Berth A at the Port of Georgetown's State Pier No. 31 is used to ship and receive foreign and domestic conventional cargo. The Berth ships forest products and receives lumber and steel. One rail track serves the transit shed and connects with CSX. The Port of Georgetown Terminal State Pier 31, Berth A, has berthing distance of 152.4 meters (500 feet) with alongside depth of 8.2 meters (27 feet).

The SCSPA owns and jointly operates the Port of Georgetown Terminal, State Pier 31, Berth B, with Akzo Nobel Salt Inc. to ship and receive a variety of foreign and domestic dry bulk and general cargoes and to receive salt, steel, and lumber. Akzo Nobel leases a 2.6-hectare open storage area and three storage buildings with capacity for 39 thousand tons of salt. The SCSPA operates a 9.3-hectare open paved storage area at the rear of the Pier, and there are three lumber sheds at the rear of the open storage area. The Port of Georgetown's State Pier 31, Berth B has berthing distance of 213.4 meters (700 feet) with alongside depth of 8.2 meters (27 feet).

The SCSPA owns the Port of Georgetown Terminal State Pier 31, Berth C which it operates jointly with Georgetown Towing Inc., McAllister Towing of Georgetown Inc., and Holnam Inc. Berth C at the Port of Georgetown's State Pier 31 is used to receive cement cargoes and to moor company-owned towboats. Holnam Inc. operates three pipelines that connect the wharf to a bulk-cement dome with total capacity for 23 thousand tons. Berth C has berthing distance of 58.5 meters (192 feet) with alongside depth of 8.2 meters (27 feet).

The City of Georgetown owns the Port of Georgetown Terminal Harborwalk. Operated by Captain Sandy's Tours Inc. and River Marine Lines to moor excursion vessels, the Harborwalk is home to the Jolly Rover, River Marine's tall ship, and the Capt. Sandy excursion vessel. The Port of Georgetown Terminal Harborwalk has berthing distance of 21.3 meters (70 feet) with alongside depth of 3.7 meters (12 feet).

SCSPA owns, and Georgetown Steel Corporation operates the Port of Georgetown Terminal, State Pier 32 Wharf to receive scrap metal and ore and to ship steel-reinforcing billets, wire, and rods. Two surface rail tracks on the wharf join tracks at the plant in the rear and connect with CSX. At the rear of the wharf is a storage area that can accommodate about 35 thousand tons of scrap metal and about 35 thousand tons of ore. The Port of Georgetown State Pier 32 Wharf has berthing distance of 217 meters (712 feet) with alongside depth of 8.2 meters (27 feet).

Privately owned docks in the Port of Georgetown are operated by the International Paper Company, Leonard and Sons Shrimp Company, Independent Seafood Inc., the South Bend Fish Dock, and the R.Y. Cathou Fish Market.

The United States Government owns, and the US Coast Guard operates the Georgetown Station Pier to moor US Coast Guard vessels. The Coast Guard's Georgetown Station is located at the rear of the pier. This Port of Georgetown pier has berthing distance of 36.6 meters (120 feet) with alongside depth of 2.4 meters (eight feet).

The Port of Georgetown Times Harborwalk Marina owns and operates the Georgetown Terminal Docks and Boat Basins to moor and fuel small vessels that include fishing and recreational boats. Located on the Sampit River, the Harborwalk Marina is near the popular Port of Georgetown Historic District and many great restaurants, shops, and other services.

The Marina dock has three berths. Berth 1 has berthing distance of 15.2 meters (50 feet) with alongside depth of 2.1 meters (seven feet). Berth 2 has berthing distance of 24.4 meters (80 feet) with alongside depth of 3.7 meters (12 feet), and Berth 3 has berthing distance of 15.2 meters (50 feet) with alongside depth of 2.4 meters (eight feet). Offering both permanent and transient dockage, the marina has about 40 transient slips with electric service (for a fee) and with alongside depths from 2.1 to three meters (7-10 feet). The floating and fixed docks can accommodate vessels to a maximum 61 meters (200 feet) in length.

The Harborwalk Marina offers gas and diesel fuel, a stationary pump-out station, climate controlled bathrooms and showers, a climate controlled laundry, and meeting facilities at the Chamber of Commerce located on the property. This Port of Georgetown marina also offers dry and wet storage. The office is open from 8:30am until 6pm in season and from 9am until 5:30pm in the winter.

Hazzard's Marine is located at the Port of Georgetown Terminal Wharf. Serving recreational vessels and fishing boats, Hazzard Marine is a full-service marine repair and refit facility located near the Port of Georgetown waterfront. Hazzard Marine has floating docks with berthing distance of 111.3 meters (365 feet) and 37 wet slips that can accommodate vessels from 7.6 to 18.3 meters (25 to 60 feet). Both diesel fuel and pump-outs are provided along the transient dock. The Port of Georgetown's Hazzard Marine services include yard storage, bottom painting, and replacing cutless bearings. Hazzard Marine equipment for rent includes a travel lift, forklifts, scissor lifts, scaffolding, and a variety of tools.

The Port of Georgetown Landing Marina is the biggest full-service marina in the area. The Georgetown Landing Marina offers deep-water docks and ample amenities serving locals, transient boaters, and sport fishers. The marina's floating transient face dock offers berthing distance of 207.3 meters (680 feet) with on-dock water, electricity, and fuel. The marina has separate refurbished restrooms with showers for men and women.

The Port of Georgetown Landing Marina has full-service ships store that is open seven days a week from 8am, offering bait, beer, tackle, ice, and much more. The Port of Georgetown Landing Marina also has a laundry, pump-out service, and a fish-cleaning station. The Land's End Restaurant near the docks offers lunch and dinner as well as a full bar. The Island Queen excursion riverboat is docked at the excursion boat float in the Port of Georgetown Landing Marina. The 90-passenger excursion vessel offers two-hour historic plantation cruises.

The Boat Shed Inc. moors and fuels fishing and recreational boats at the Port of Georgetown Terminal dock. The dock has three berths with alongside depth of 2.4 meters (eight feet). Two berths have berthing distance of 30.5 meters (100 feet), and one has berthing distance of 55.5 meters (182 feet). The marina offers both inside and outside dry storage services including dry stack storage for 145 boats from 5.5 to 9.1 meters (18 to 30 feet). The Boat Shed offers slips and transient dockage up to 27.4 meters (90 feet) at the Port of Georgetown Terminal dock. Gas and diesel area available at the marina, as are cable TV, wireless Internet, a ships store, and a new tackle shop.

The Boat Shed's full-service shop offers a wide range of services that include winterizing engines to maintaining electronics and trailers. The shop makes engine repairs for Evinrude, Johnson, and Yamaha engines. It also performs spring tune-ups and custom installations for marine electronics. Other services include bottom cleaning and painting and boat detailing.

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