(1) The board shall have power to acquire, purchase, install, lease, construct, own, hold, maintain, equip, use, control, and operate ports, harbors, waterways, channels, wharves, piers, docks, quays, elevators, tipples, compresses, bulk loading and unloading facilities, warehouses, floating dry docks, graving docks, marine railways, tugboats, machinery and equipment, and water, air and rail terminals, and roadways and approaches thereto, and other structures and facilities needful for the convenient use of the same in the aid of commerce, including the dredging, deepening, extending, widening, or enlarging of any ports, harbors, rivers, channels, and waterways, the damming of inland waterways, the establishment of water basins, the acquisition and development of industrial sites and the reclaiming of submerged lands.

(2) The State Inland Port Authority, subject to the approval of the board, shall have the power to borrow money from any source, public or private, for any of its corporate purposes and to give such security as may be required in connection therewith and to enter into a joint agreement with the boards of supervisors of any county, or the governing authority of any municipality, or both acting jointly, to issue revenue bonds of such county or municipality, or both, acting jointly, as provided by Section 59-7-311 which bonds may be payable out of any revenues of the authority, including grants or contributions from the federal government or other sources. Such revenue bonds may be issued without an election on resolution of the board of supervisors, governing body of the municipality, or both acting jointly, and shall not be subject to any limitation as to amount, and shall not be included or computed in the statutory limitation of indebtedness of any such county or municipality.

(3) All leases which are now in effect or which may hereafter be executed by the State Inland Port Authority for port, harbor, commercial or industrial improvements, and all structures and all improvements and other permanent facilities erected, installed or located by such lessees, or their successors or assignees within the limits of any port, harbor or part thereof, may be free and exempt from all state, county and municipal ad valorem taxes if so stipulated in such lease, and for such period as may be fixed in such lease, not to exceed such periods of time as are now authorized or may be hereafter authorized by law.