Rhode Island General Laws Title 46. Waters and Navigation § 46-10-4. Inventory of property--Compensation and reimbursement of commissioner

The commissioner shall, upon finding any wreck or shipwrecked goods, take an inventory of all the property that shall come into his or her possession; and, whenever required by the owner of the property or the owner's agent or by any insurance company or underwriter or other person interested in the property, he or she shall make an oath to the truth of the inventory and shall deliver a copy thereof, together with all the property to the owner, agent, or other person lawfully authorized to receive it; provided, that there shall be paid or secured to be paid to the commissioner a reasonable compensation for the commissioner's services and expenses and any customhouse duties and other charges, if any, that he or she shall have paid or become liable to pay on or for the property in question.