The Lamar University Center for Ports & Waterways (LU-CPW) is a research and development center within the Lamar University Division of Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). This center is focused on research and development in port and waterways security and safety, intermodal transportation logistics, and waterway development and maintenance. The center draws on expertise of the five engineering departments within the College, from other colleges on campus and from other campuses within the consortium. This consortium includes Texas A & M University at College Station , Texas A & M University at Galveston , Texas A & M University at Corpus Christi, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Lamar University , Beaumont, Texas.

The Center for Ports and Waterways (CPW), established in 1995, is a multidisciplinary transportation research and educational unit of TTI, a member of the Texas A&M University System. For nearly half a century, TTI has dedicated itself to solving transportation problems. With its Center for Ports and Waterways (CPW), TTI combines that same commitment with a focus on the maritime needs of Texas and the nation.