A.  The commission may authorize a reasonable travel allowance for its members in the performance of their official duties.  It may employ such officers, agents, and employees as it finds necessary in the performance of its duties, and it may prescribe the duties, powers, and compensation of such officers, agents, and employees.  The commission on such terms as it agrees upon, may contract for legal, financial, engineering, and other professional services necessary or expedient in the conduct of its affairs and, on terms and conditions mutually agreeable, may utilize the services of the other executive departments of the state.

B.  The commission shall regulate the commerce and traffic within such port area in such manner as may, in its judgment, be for the best interest of the state.  It shall have charge of and administer public wharves, docks, sheds, and landings and may construct or acquire and equip wharves and landings and other structures useful for the commerce of the port area and provide mechanical facilities therefor.  It shall also have authority to erect sheds or other structures on such wharves and landings; to maintain proper depths of water at all such wharves and landings; to provide light, water, police protection, and other services for its facilities as it may deem advisable; to construct or acquire, maintain, and operate basins, locks, canals, warehouses, and elevators; to charge for the use of all facilities administered by it and for all services rendered by it such fees, rates, tariffs, or other charges as it may establish; to establish harbor lines within the port area by agreement with the United States Corps of Engineers; and to construct, own, operate, and maintain terminal rail facilities and other common carrier rail facilities for the purpose of rendering rail transportation to and from the facilities to be erected, owned, and operated by the commission in both intrastate and interstate commerce.

C.  The commission may charge a reasonable fee to each vessel arriving in the port area in ballast or carrying cargo of any kind.  It may also charge for each copy of any certificate issued by any of its officers or employees for inspecting hatches, surveying cargo, or making other surveys or inspections of vessels in the port area, but shall furnish, without charge, to the master of each such vessel one copy of all surveys upon his vessel or cargo.

D.  The commission may make and enter into contracts, leases, and other agreements with railroads, trucking companies, barge lines, and with any and all companies interested in the transportation, storage, and shipping of goods and other products, whether by rail, truck line, barge line, oceangoing vessels, or otherwise for the use of facilities administered by the commission or any part or portion thereof for a period of time not exceeding forty years.  However, no exclusive franchise shall be granted to any carrier.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 67, §1.