A FISHING boat that sank off the North-East with the loss of two lives was in a poor condition, an accident report has revealed.

The Jann Denise II, crewed by father-of-three Bobby Temple, 34, and his 27-year-old stepbrother Brian Allison, both from Fencehouses, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, went down in heavy seas.

A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said evidence indicated the 36ft steel-hulled vessel began to take water because of her poor structural condition.

Other issues raised included the absence of structural surveys and formal evaluation of stability for small fishing vessels. It added there was also a "lack of understanding of the importance or stability and seaworthiness of small fishing vessels by skippers and owners".

The report, which also covered the loss of two other fishing boats, said they highlighted the pitfalls in the safety inspection regime.

The Jann Denise II, registered in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and owned by Caley Fisheries, sailed from North Tyneside early on November 17 last year.

It was returning to port when last seen, and its loss prompted one of the region's largest sea and inshore searches for many years. The wreckage was found five miles east of the Tyne.

The bodies of the experienced trawlermen, originally from Seaham, County Dur-ham, have never been found.

A second boat, which sank off Scotland with the loss of its skipper, had been "in a very poor state of repair", but was not detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), it added.

The third vessel, which went down off Northern Ireland, sunk with the loss of its skipper after sailing with known deficiencies.

The MAIB said all three vessels were less than 15 metres long and subject to the MCA's code for small fishing vessels.

The report added: "This code places an onus on the owners/skippers to ensure that their boats are operated and fitted out to minimum levels of safety.

"Inspections of these vessels by the MCA are largely confined to equipment checks, which are often performed by personnel with limited technical experience."

Commenting on all three incidents, 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.

"Additionally, establishing new ways of providing skippers and owners with advice on a range of safety issues should be explored."