Boat condition blamed for deaths

The bodies of Brian Allison and Rob Temple have not been found

A fishing boat, which sank off the North East coast with the loss of two men, was in "poor" condition, an official accident report has revealed.

Brothers Rob Temple, 34, and Brian Allison, 27, from Sunderland, died when the Jann Denise II went down last year.

The boat wreckage was located, but the men have not been found.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report said the accident highlighted the "pitfalls" in the current safety inspection regime.

The Jann Denise II foundered south-east of the River Tyne heading back to North Shields on 17 November 2004.

Self regulation

The report, published on Friday, said all the evidence indicated that the vessel began to take water due to her "poor structural condition".

The wreckage of the boat was eventually found on the sea bed.

The report said the boat was less than 15m in length and subject to compliance with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) code for small fishing vessels.

Fishing vessel Jann Denise II after it was raised

It said: "This code places an onus on the owners/skippers to ensure that their boats are operated and fitted out to minimum levels of safety, ie self regulation.

"Whilst the lighter touch of authority is largely welcomed by the industry... a small cadre of owners and skippers who wish to ignore basic safety have more freedom to put themselves and their crews at risk."

The report also highlighted the absence of a structural survey and the "lack of understanding of the importance or stability and seaworthiness of small fishing vessels by skippers and owners".

The MAIB said: "If further tragic loss of life is to be avoided, the balance between self-regulation and the role of the authorities needs to be reviewed."