Le Havre
Can I buy a ship without a Wharf, and is buying better than building?
The rulebook says ships can be bought even if no Wharf has been built.
Yes. Buying a ship is an additional action for Francs, needs no Wharf and no Main action, and only the topmost face-up ship of each pile can be bought. It costs more Francs than the ship's value, but saves resources, 3 energy and your Main action; building is cheaper in resources. You can hold several ships of one type and buy two in a turn as the next card is uncovered.