"Don't Pay the Ferryman" is a single by Chris de Burgh from the album The Getaway. It was produced in 1982 and in 1983, the single reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the USA. The song tells the story of a man who boards a ferryboat and sets off. A storm approaches and the ferryman demands payment from the patron. The song's narrator warns the passenger not to pay the ferryman until the boat arrives at its destination on the other side. Reference: Wikipedia
This ferryman was providing a service from the quayside the the various boats and ships moored in the harbour.