World’s largest military terminal, world record in Southport, North Carolina

October 12, 2025

Southport, North Carolina, United States--The Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU), located near Southport, North Carolina, run by the U.S. Army, is the U.S. Department of Defense's primary ammunition seaport on the Atlantic Coast and serves as a transfer point for moving military equipment, ammunition, and explosives between ships, trains, and trucks; it is operated by the 596th Transportation Brigade, on a 16,000-acre, Army-owned site and sets the world record for being the World’s largest military terminal, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"The world's largest military terminal is the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU), located near Southport, North Carolina. It is the U.S. Department of Defense's primary ammunition seaport on the Atlantic Coast and serves as a transfer point for moving military equipment, ammunition, and explosives between ships, trains, and trucks. (AI Overview)

Location: Brunswick County, North Carolina, on the west bank of the Cape Fear River.
Function: Transfers military supplies, including ammunition, explosives, tanks, and other equipment, between various transportation methods.
Significance: Serves as the key ammunition shipping point for the Atlantic Coast and a vital link for the Department of Defense's logistical operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Facilities: Includes large wharves for ships and 62 miles of railroad tracks, making it equipped to handle containerized ammunition and other dangerous cargo.
Operations: Has been operational since 1955 and is home to the 596th Transportation Brigade.

"On the west bank of the Cape Fear River lies the largest military terminal in the world: Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU). While MOTSU encompasses over 16,000 acres in Brunswick County, North Carolina," the U.S. Department of War says.

"But its gates opened recently, welcoming U.S. Transportation Command’s (USTRANSCOM) leadership for a rare tour of the facility and an inside look into how MOTSU supports the command’s global mission.

“We’re excited to host Gen. Van Ovost [USTRANSCOM commander] and Fleet Master Chief Donald Myrick [USTRANSCOM senior enlisted leader] to see the great work we do here at MOTSU,” said Steven Kerr, the MOTSU deputy to the commander.

"MOTSU, run by the U.S. Army, is the nation’s largest ocean terminal for receiving and delivering military equipment like rockets, missiles, howitzers, grenades, projectiles, pyrotechnics and more. The terminal is also the Defense Department’s East Coast strategic ammunition port," the U.S. Department of War says.

“Wherever we’re fighting is where we’re likely sending or receiving cargo,” Kerr said.

With this being Van Ovost and Myrick’s first time visiting the terminal, they took time to speak with the men and women operating at the busy port. She also recognized several key performers with a military coin as a token of appreciation, one of whom was Susan Apke, who helped modernize MOTSU’s information management networks."

"Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU) is one of the largest military terminals in the world. It serves as a transfer point between rail, trucks, and ships for the import and export of weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment for the United States Army and is operated by the 596th Transportation Brigade

"The terminal lies between the small town of Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina, and the Cape Fear River a few miles upstream of Fort Johnston (North Carolina) and the small city of Southport, North Carolina.

"Built in 1951 and opened in 1955, the facility is situated on an Army-owned 8,500-acre (34 km2) site on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick and New Hanover counties of North Carolina approximately 16 miles (26 km) south of Wilmington, North Carolina. An additional 2,100 acres (8.5 km2) was set aside on Pleasure Island (location of Carolina, Kure, and Fort Fisher beaches) as a buffer zone around the facility." (Wikipedia)

"The terminal is not an open post and access is restricted. The wharfs are also restricted and not accessible to the public (no landing or docking). The Cape Fear River directly in front of the wharfs is restricted and non-military traffic is restricted to transit only (no anchoring).

"The port can handle up to 6 ships simultaneously and features large cranes for loading and unloading vessels. A network of 62 miles (100 km) of railroad tracks move munitions and supplies around the facility.

"The port has transferred munitions to every major armed conflict since it was established. The facility was especially active during the Vietnam War with up to six ships being simultaneously loaded. 466,000 tons of cargo was transferred through MOTSU during the Persian Gulf War." (Wikipedia)

"The Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point as it exists today was established in 1955 by the Department of The Army. In every armed conflict since its creation the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point has played a role in supporting deployed units.

"During the Gulf War operations of Desert Shield, Desert Sortie and Desert Storm Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point was tasked with handling over 90% of the resupply munitions for US forces. This task included everything from small arms ammunition up to 750 pound M117 bombs," the Military Bases says.

"The waterways around Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point are well suited for maritime traffic, but the harbors and ports have required expansion in frequent years to accommodate expanding traffic. From 1995 to 1996 deep draft dredging was undertaken to expand the entrance of channel number 1 and 2 in depth and width. Deep draft dredging was started again in 1998 to accommodate larger berth ships and in a short time of 2.3 million cubic yards of clay, sand and silt were removed from the harbor area."

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point

"The largest military terminal in the world. The Sunny Point facility is operated by the 596th Transportation Brigade, on a 16,000-acre, Army-owned site. The facility opened in 1955 and is the key ammunition shipping point on the Atlantic Coast for the Department of Defense. MOTSU is the largest ammunition port in the nation, and the Army's primary east coast deep-water port. MOTSU is the Department of Defense's key Atlantic Coast ammunition shipping point," the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs says.

It provides worldwide trans-shipment of DOD ammunition, explosives, and other dangerous cargo under the command of the 1303d Major Port Command.

"Despite its isolation, Sunny Point is an impressive facility. Its three huge docks or concrete wharves can handle several ships at one time. Large cranes and a massive railroad system with 62 miles of tracks within the terminal move military supplies and explosive cargo," the NCpedia says.

"During the Vietnam War (1957-75) Sunny Point bristled with activity, loading as many as six ships at once with armaments. More than 466,000 measured tons of cargo used in the Persian Gulf War (1991) passed through the port. As the world's largest military terminal, Sunny Point ships more explosive cargo and equipment to the nation's armed forces and allies than any other facility.

"In the early 2000s security at Sunny Point was tight. Visitors entered by appointment and were asked to surrender any matches or lighters. Safety was emphasized. Plexiglas was used instead of glass in all buildings to eliminate the scattering of glass fragments during accidental explosions, and cargo waiting to be loaded into ships was temporarily stored between earthen barricades to localize such incidents."

"The Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU), which sits near North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, is one of the largest military terminals in the world. Built during the Korean War, it serves as a transfer point between trucks, railroads, and ships for the movement of weapons, military equipment, and ammunition," the Army.mil says.

"Today the 596th Transportation Brigade, part of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, operates MOTSU. This facility has been involved in the transport of munitions to every major U.S. conflict since it opened in 1955, so it is not a stranger to different types of ammunition. An unusual piece of ammunition came to light in 2018, however, when a live round from the Civil War was recovered.

"While there is much about the world’s largest military terminal that is not for public knowledge, Kerr and those who work there want people to know they take their mission and the safety of all those in the community seriously," the Wilmington Star News reports.

"As MOTSU approaches its 70th anniversary in 2025, employees and community members reflect on its history, its mission, its commitment to the community, and its future.

"The munitions terminal opened on Nov. 1, 1955. At the time it was called the “Wilmington Ammunition Port,” but the name was later changed to Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, or MOTSU."

Photos: World’s largest military terminal, world record in Southport, North Carolina

(1,2,3,4,5) U.S. Department of War

(6) The MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett, one of the Air Force's Afloat Pre-positioned Fleet ships, sits at one of the docks Oct. 16 at the Military Ocean Terminal-Sunny Point, N.C. The APF ships are loaded with thousands of tons of munitions and then sail to a predetermined point in the Pacific or Indian Ocean where they wait to offload their cargo when needed. The Bennett is one of four ships belonging to the APF./Wikipedia