One of three public cargo facilities at the Port of Jacksonville is located there, and it is also the site of the United States Marine Corps Blount Island Command.

Utilities, roads and other infrastructure were established and the world's largest crane, 38 stories tall and capable of lifting 990 metric tons, was purchased and installed for $15 million.

[6] The following year, Gate Petroleum leased a portion of their Blount Island property to the United States Marine Corps.

In 1989, the U.S. Navy signed a $5 million per year contract with Gate to dock two ships at Blount Island on new piers built for that purpose.

The construction, which would require dredging the channel, was opposed by a group of fishermen, environmentalists and nearby residents who owned riverfront property.

[8] In November 1990, Gate sold the 20-year-old Offshore Power Systems crane for $3 million to the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and their workers dismantled it for shipment overseas.

The squadron's ships contain enough food, equipment, supplies, and ammunition to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force for one month.

In 1986, the U.S. Marine Corps established the Biennial Maintenance Command (BMC) on the east side of Blount Island using 262 acres (1.06 km2) leased from Gate Maritime Properties for $11 million per year.

The terminal also offers 240,000 square feet (22,000 m2) of transit shed space and a 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2) Container Freight Station for cross-dock efficiency.

In addition to import operations, several companies provide freight service to the Caribbean, including Trailer Bridge and Crowley Maritime.

In the Fall of 2009, the Port Authority received a grant of almost $6 million to improve the Blount Island rail system, which was also utilized by the U.S. Marine Corps' terminal.

Jaxport is currently working with the Florida Department of Transportation on a $45 million project to expand capacities at Blount Island.