Being small, less than 1,000 gross tons, it was supposed to be exempted from harbor pilot fees. Also small and exempted, the owner protested the P24,794 pilotage. In September 2021, Batangas Harbor Pilot Co. imposed P24,794 flat rate for all vessel sizes in the province’s nine government and private ports. The Manila Bay Harbor Pilot’s Partnership (MBHPP) suddenly banned Avega’s two tugboats from berthing and undocking its vessels there. Domestic ships previously were allowed to go in and out unassisted by tugs and harbor pilots.
