A. In order to enhance the safety and facilitate the movement of vessels within the district, the district may charge a reasonable fee to each vessel anchoring or transferring cargo within the district, arriving or departing the district in ballast, or carrying cargo of any kind, based either on length of the vessel, its volume of registered tonnage, or its volume of cargo actually carried. The district may charge reasonable fees for any and all costs of regulation and services rendered in aid of interstate or foreign commerce or provided on a standby basis, such as fire and police protection, rescue services, and port communication systems for vessels, privately and publicly owned wharves, docks, warehouses, elevators, and all other facilities within the district.
B. The district may charge a reasonable fee to each vessel arriving in ballast or carrying cargo of any kind. It may also charge for each copy of any certificate issued by it or its deputies for inspecting hatches, surveying cargoes and the like. The master of each vessel shall, however, be furnished free one copy of all surveys upon his vessel or cargo.
C. The district, acting through its governing authority, may levy annually an ad valorem tax not to exceed five mills on the dollar on the property subject to taxation situated in the district. All funds derived under this Subsection shall be used for the needs and lawful purposes of the district, including the construction of capital improvements.
D. The district may likewise borrow money for the said purposes from time to time and issue certificates of indebtedness secured by any fees and the tax in the manner provided by Part V, Chapter 4, Title 39 and R.S. 33:2922-33:2924, as amended.