Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point
Encyclopedia
Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU) is the largest military terminal 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 United States Army
. The 597th Transportation Terminal Group, United States Army
, operates the terminal.
The terminal lies between Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina
, and the Cape Fear River
a few miles upstream of Fort Johnston (North Carolina)
and the very small city of Southport, North Carolina
.
Built in 1951 and opened in 1955, the facility is situated on an Army-owned 8500 acres (34.4 km²) site on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick
and New Hanover
counties of North Carolina
approximately 26 miles (41.8 km) south of Wilmington, North Carolina
. An additional 2100 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.
It is the key ammunition shipping point on the Atlantic Coast
for the Department of Defense
and the Army's primary east coast deep-water port. Sunny Point is the only Department of Defense terminal equipped to handle containerized ammunition.
The port can handle up to 6 ships simultaneously and features large cranes for loading and unloading vessels. A network of 62 miles (99.8 km) of railroad tracks move munitions and supplies around the facility. To minimize the effect of any accidental explosions, buildings at the facility feature Plexiglas windows rather than glass windows, and the terminal stores explosives between earthen bunkers.
operated a plantation following his first term as colonial governor of the then Province of North Carolina
. It later was known as Snows Point when owned by rice planter Robert Snow. During the civil war, the area served as a battery protecting the Cape Fear River
. Its isolation, few structures and access to deep water made it an ideal location as an ammunition transfer point.
The port has transferred munitions to every major armed conflict since it was established. The port was very 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
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The 597th Transportation Terminal Group, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, operates the terminal.
The terminal lies between Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina
Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina
Boiling Spring Lakes is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,972 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Boiling Spring Lakes is located at ....
, and the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
a few miles upstream of Fort Johnston (North Carolina)
Fort Johnston (North Carolina)
Fort Johnston was a United States Army post in Brunswick County, North Carolina on Moore Street near Southport, North Carolina. It stands on the west bank of the Cape Fear River, four miles above its mouth.-Colonial:...
and the very small city of Southport, North Carolina
Southport, North Carolina
Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Built in 1951 and opened in 1955, the facility is situated on an Army-owned 8500 acres (34.4 km²) site on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick
Brunswick County, North Carolina
-External links:*******....
and New Hanover
New Hanover County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...
counties of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
approximately 26 miles (41.8 km) south of Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. An additional 2100 acres (8.5 km²) was set aside on Pleasure Island
Pleasure Island (North Carolina)
Pleasure Island is a coastal island in Southeastern North Carolina, USA south of Wilmington. The coastal towns of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, as well as the annexed community of Wilmington Beach, are located on the island...
(location of Carolina
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Carolina Beach is a town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,701 at the 2000 census. It is located on part of the Wilmington metropolitan area...
, Kure
Kure Beach, North Carolina
Kure Beach (ˈkjʊərɪ KYUR-ee) is a town in New Hanover County, North Carolina about 15 miles south of Wilmington. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,507 at the 2000 census...
, and Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
beaches) as a buffer zone around the facility.
It is the key ammunition shipping point on the Atlantic Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
for the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and the Army's primary east coast deep-water port. Sunny Point is the only Department of Defense terminal equipped to handle containerized ammunition.
The port can handle up to 6 ships simultaneously and features large cranes for loading and unloading vessels. A network of 62 miles (99.8 km) of railroad tracks move munitions and supplies around the facility. To minimize the effect of any accidental explosions, buildings at the facility feature Plexiglas windows rather than glass windows, and the terminal stores explosives between earthen bunkers.
History
The earliest known use of the area dates to 1725 when George BurringtonGeorge Burrington
George Burrington was the governor of the Province of North Carolina, from January 1724 to April 1725, and again from February 1731 to 1734....
operated a plantation following his first term as colonial governor of the then Province of North Carolina
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
. It later was known as Snows Point when owned by rice planter Robert Snow. During the civil war, the area served as a battery protecting the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
. Its isolation, few structures and access to deep water made it an ideal location as an ammunition transfer point.
The port has transferred munitions to every major armed conflict since it was established. The port was very active during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
with up to six ships being simultaneously loaded. 466,000 tons of cargo was transferred through MOTSU during the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
See
- Surface Deployment and Distribution CommandSurface Deployment and Distribution CommandSDDC provides ocean terminal, commercial ocean liner service and traffic management services to deploy, sustain and redeploy U.S. forces on a global basis. The command is responsible for surface transportation and is the interface between DOD shippers and the commercial transportation carrier...
- Military Ocean TerminalMilitary Ocean TerminalMilitary Ocean Terminals are operated by the U.S. Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command for distribution of surface cargo from storage and repair depots to military forward based units.-Current facilities:...