Goldbelt Incorporated is a step closer toward its plan to build a $500 million cruise ship port in Juneau. The State of Alaska issued a preliminary decision last week to approve a 25-year lease of state-owned tidelands on Douglas Island to the Alaska Native corporation.
The preliminary decision was issued on Friday, and is now open for public comment. Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 23.
Goldbelt originally announced its plans to build the cruise ship port in partnership with Royal Caribbean Group in 2024. Goldbelt owns roughly 1,800 acres of land along the northwest coastline of Douglas between False Outer Point and Point Hilda. The proposed port would include two cruise ship docks and would be located on about 250 acres just past the end of North Douglas Highway.
The state’s lease — if finalized — would enable Goldbelt to construct two cruise ship docks along with several smaller boat facilities on about 150 acres of state tidelands. Goldbelt originally submitted for a 55-year lease, but the state recommended 25 years instead to allow for reassessments.
The state’s preliminary decision includes input from several state departments, including Fish and Game. In its comments, the department wrote that the development could have significant impact on commercial and personal use crab fisheries, along with some impact on sport fishing for salmon and groundfish in the area.
The department also noted that while there is no marine mammal critical habitat designated in the area, several marine mammals like humpback whales, sea lions, porpoises and otters have ranges that overlap with it.
The tideland lease is just one of several approvals from multiple agencies that Goldbelt needs to break ground on the project. It also needs a conditional use permit and floodplain development permit from the city, both of which are in progress. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the conditional use permit application at a future Juneau Planning Commission meeting.
Goldbelt says it hopes to open the port in May of 2028.
