Silver River Harbor Fees and Taxes
Kindly created by Brick
The lifeblood of a port city comes from the fees and taxes it passes on merchant ships for the use of its facilities. This is no different in Silver River. Fortunately, the tax system is designed to encourage trade and facilitate safe travel.
All incoming merchant ships are required to pay an import tax upon transferring their cargo to the quays. The import tax stands at five percent (5%) of the total estimated cargo value. The Harbormaster is responsible for appointing assessors who compare the ship's cargo manifest against the current market value of the imports. All merchant ships who dock at the quays are responsible for submitting a cargo manifest. Failure to produce a cargo manifest is punishable by a fine of 5 gold per ton of cargo (with a minimum fine of 5 gold).
Navigation of the mouth of the Silver River is difficult because of the large number of submerged sandbars and shoals formed from silt deposition. The Harbor Authority employs professional harbor pilots who have been trained in the safe navigation of the Black Bay and the Silver River. Use of the harbor pilots is not mandatory, but is highly recommended. The harbor pilots are based on Lighthouse Island and use their own craft to meet merchant ships in the bay. Harbor pilot fees vary with the size of the ship. Small ships (less than 40 feet long) are charged 5 gold per day. Medium ships (less than 100 feet long) are charged 20 gold per day. Large ships (greater than 100 feet) are charged 50 gold per day.
The slave trade is banned in Silver River. Slaver ships are forbidden to take harbor in the quays or to pass through the channel. Slave smugglers found in harbor will be fined 1000 gold and evicted. If the fine cannot be paid, the ship will be seized by the Black Army and the captain and crew imprisoned until the debt is paid. Slaver ships intercepted at sea will be turned away. Any attempt to break the blockade will be considered a violent criminal act. Slaver blockade runners will be boarded, the ship seized, and the captain and crew subjected to a Black Army courts-martial.
Merchant ships exporting locally-produced goods are not subject to an export tax. The dock use fee for all ships docked at the quay stands at 65 silver per day. Payment of the fee entitles the ship's crew to exercise shore leave in the town and guarantees the ship's position at the dock. Ships desiring to drop anchor in the harbor without using the dock are subject to a 30 silver harbor use fee. This is to help cover the cost of the town's cargo lighters and crew ferries.
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