Model Perspective

Jul 15, 2022 · Operations

Can Iceberg Tugboats Beat Desalination? Modeling the Cost of Shipping Antarctic Ice

This study models the economic feasibility of transporting Antarctic icebergs by tugboat over 9,600 km to supply fresh water for the Persian Gulf, comparing the per‑cubic‑meter cost—including vessel rental, fuel consumption, melting rate, and ship speed—to the cost of seawater desalination.