SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued four boaters from a sinking WWII-era landing craft near Rio Vista Tuesday.Boaters aboard the 70-foot landing craft, which had a water truck aboard, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center watchstanders at approximately 11:30 a.m., reporting that they were in distress.Sector watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard a 29-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Rio Vista. The crew arrived on scene, and with assistance from a good Samaritan boater, rescued the four people from the sinking landing craft.The landing craft is partially submerged and secured to a pier near Rio Vista and does not pose a threat to bridge or commercial traffic in the area.Oil has been observed in the water around the submerged vessel. The owner of the landing craft has contracted Parker Diving and Salvage, Inc., to conduct a pollution and salvage assessment.
The total fuel capacity of the landing craft is 500 gallons, though the owner reports that 175 gallons are aboard.No injuries were reported.