Study Finds $1.4B Price Tag for Alaska Green Methanol Cruise Corridor

Cruise passengers on the popular Washington, British Columbia and Alaska route would face the prospect of paying hundreds of dollars in extra ticket costs per cruise in order to sail aboard green methanol-fueled ships, a new study finds. The recently-completed review suggests that - in the absence of carbon legislation - regional plans for the "green corridor" could hinge upon whether passengers are willing to pay a steep premium.

In 2022, 15 organizations with a direct interest in cruising along the route came together and established the Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor project. The primary goal of these "First Movers" was to explore the possibility of the world's first cruise green corridor, which would be achieved by accelerating the deployment of low- and zero-greenhouse gas emission ships.

The partners' first actions included commissioning a feasibility study on the introduction of green methanol-powered ships for deployment by the early 2030s. Now, a study by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has returned the verdict that although the green methanol corridor is technically and regulatorily feasible, it faces hefty financial challenges. Making the project economically viable would require closing a cost gap of $1.4 billion to support corridor operations over a 25-year period.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →