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River Boat Capsizes Near Bethel Island

BETHEL ISLAND (CBS SF) -- An 87-foot boat started taking on water and capsized early Sunday morning near Bethel Island in eastern Contra Costa County, according to the United States Coast Guard.

The incident was reported around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

Two people on board The Spirit Of Sacramento safely rescued themselves using a dinghy, and Coast Guard personnel escorted them to shore.

The boat had once starred in a John Wayne film.

The capsized vessel is anchored outside the marked channel and doesn't pose a navigation hazard, but it had roughly 600 gallons of diesel fuel onboard and Coast Guard personnel have confirmed the presence of sheening on the water's surface.

Global Diving and Salvage has been hired to contain the environmental threat and stabilize the vessel.

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