PCG: An ailing foreign seafarer was air lifted by the Coast Guard from a Curacao-flagged vessel in the vicinity waters of Lubang Island in the morning of January 12. 

Able-bodied seaman (AB) Vasilijs Mahins reportedly incurred an open fracture on his lower right leg while working onboard MV Transporter.

The vessel's ship master Capt. J. Kabicenko immediately coordinated with the Coast Guard Action Center (CGAC) around 10:30AM of the said date for the medical evacuation of Mahins.

 Despite having most ships and air assets engaged for the Papal Visit security, Chief of Coast Guard Staff Capt. Oscar Endona deployed MCS 3004 to rendezvous with MV Transporter near Lubang Island.

MCS 3004 was previously placed under the Operational Control of Task Group Papal Visit.

The personnel of MCS 3004 have successfully air lifted Mahins and ferried him to Cunanan Wharf where the Coast Guard Medical team and an ambulance commissioned by manning agent Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC) was waiting for his immediate transfer to their preferred hospital, the Manila Doctors.

MV Transporter departed Batam, Indonesia and was enroute to Tianjin, China when the incident occurred.