(1) There is levied, assessed and shall be collected a tax of three and one-half percent (3-½%) upon the gross proceeds of sales or gross receipts of sales of every person engaging or continuing within this state in the business of selling any tangible personal property or performing any construction activity upon (a) any floating structure that is normally moored and not normally engaged in the business of transporting people or property, and that is located in the waters within the State of Mississippi, and (b) any cruise vessel. Such structures include, but are not limited to, casinos, floating restaurants, floating hotels and similar property, regardless of whether the property is self-propelled. The tax imposed under this subsection (1) shall not apply to tangible personal property that is not a component part of the structure.

(2) If the owner of a structure described in subsection (1) of this section holds a direct pay permit issued by the State Tax Commission under Section 27-65-93, the owner shall furnish the permit to the seller or person performing the construction activity unless the holder of the direct pay permit is given written instructions or written authority to do otherwise by the commissioner. After being furnished the direct pay permit, the seller or person performing the construction activity shall be relieved of the duty to collect the tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section. The commissioner may assign a distinctive number to a structure and issue the distinctive number to the owner. The owner of the structure may furnish the distinctive number to persons performing construction activity in order to allow such persons to purchase component materials and parts for use in the construction activity without the requirement of paying sales tax on the purchases.