There are two state seaports in North Carolina, located in Wilmington and Morehead City. These two ports play a crucial role in the state's economy as they help foster the movement of goods across North Carolina and the southeastern United States. These ports are also becoming extremely important as the nearby ports in Charleston, SC and Norfolk, VA approach their capacity. Providing modern, efficient transportation infrastructure to the State's ports will be vital to their long-term economic success. The port in Wilmington currently has better access to an Interstate facility, as the eastern terminus for I-40 is in the vicinity. The Army Corps of Engineers has also completed a major dredging project in the Cape Fear River, which allows larger ships to enter the Wilmington area. In state fiscal year 2004 (July 2003 to July 2004), 328 ships and 48 barges docked in Wilmington, exchanging 2,326,765 tons of goods (container, breakbulk, and bulk). During the same time period, 168 ships and 250 barges docked in Morehead City exchanging 2,215,591 of goods (breakbulk and bulk).

View a Map of the Major Airports, Seaports, and Inland Terminals in North Carolina.