It is hereby made the duty of the Alabama State Port Authority to police and maintain general supervision of the Harbor and Port of Mobile and of all vessels in and about the same; to protect all shipping while in said harbor and port from fires, snags, obstructions, collisions with rafts, barges and all other watercraft; to facilitate the movement of all vessels and other watercraft into and out of said harbor and port and from point to point therein having due regard to the conformation of, and conditions surrounding the inner harbor extending from Beacon Forty up Mobile River in the dredged channel, and the dredged channel leading thereto.

The Alabama State Port Authority through its Harbor Master and deputy shall have full power to regulate shifting, removal, anchorage, berthage and moorage, and the position of all vessels, rafts and other watercraft while in said harbor and port and their movements into and out thereof, and to require vessels to accommodate other vessels as the circumstances warrant, and as the general convenience, safety and good order may require.

For the purpose of meeting the expense attendant upon the general and special supervision of the Harbor and Port of Mobile and the performance of the duties and service required by this chapter, and by the rules and regulations herein authorized, and of similar duties relating to the supervision of the harbor and port required by other statutory provisions, the fees and charges, general and special, as may be fixed and determined by the Alabama State Port Authority, are hereby imposed against all owners, charterers or persons in possession, to be collected by said port authority on vessels using the inner harbor as defined in this chapter. The port authority is authorized and empowered to collect such fees and charges by any appropriate proceedings in personam or in rem, when authorized by the Governor. The Alabama State Port Authority is authorized to make such reasonable changes in such charges, or any of them, by raising or lowering them as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter, and to lower the same as may be necessary to protect said port from discrimination at other ports.

The Director of the Alabama State Port Authority shall appoint a Harbor Master and two deputies. It shall be the duty of the Harbor Master with the assistance of his deputies, subject to the supervision of the Alabama State Port Authority, to perform all the duties and render all the services imposed upon the said port authority by this chapter and all similar duties and services pertaining to said harbor and port required by other laws to be done and performed by said port authority, and, subject to such supervision, to enforce all rules and regulations promulgated by said port authority pursuant to its police powers and its powers to maintain a general and special supervision over said harbor and port and all vessels and other watercraft in or about said harbor or port as set forth in this chapter or any other laws pertaining thereto.

The Harbor Master and his two deputies shall be subject to removal by the director for cause. Before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, they shall execute to the State of Alabama a bond, to be approved by the Governor, in amounts to be fixed by the Director of Alabama State Port Authority, for the faithful performance of their duties. No person shall be eligible for the office of Harbor Master or deputy unless he is the holder of federal pilot license for Mobile Bay and tributaries, and also a state pilot license issued by the Alabama State Port Authority. The licenses now held by the Harbor Master and deputies or that may hereafter be issued to their successor or successors or other deputies by the Alabama State Port Authority shall cover duty to be performed in the inner Harbor or Port of Mobile. The Harbor Master in person or by deputy shall board each vessel entering the inner harbor or port extending from Beacon Forty northerly up into Mobile River to the limits of the jurisdiction of the port authority, while in port, to satisfy himself that such vessel is complying with the laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the harbor and port and to obtain data for his record; and he shall keep a record of all vessels, barges and tugboats arriving and sailing from port in foreign and coastwise trade. All vacancies as may occur shall be filled by the director, and he may appoint such other deputies as the business of the port may require, after written examination as to their qualifications. They are to be appointed on probation for a period of 90 days, and thereafter, if found to be competent they shall become permanent employees upon their giving bond as may be required by the director. The Harbor Master and deputies shall be subject to call at any time, day or night, to perform any duties required of them, weather conditions permitting.

Any person who shall perform the duties of a Harbor Master or a deputy harbor master without being qualified as provided by law to perform such duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.