The Director of Public Prosecutions will consider whether criminal proceedings should be started after yesterday's publication of the inquiry into the Marchioness riverboat disaster in 1989, in which 51 people died.
At the end of a 12-year search for answers driven by the relatives of those who were killed when the Marchioness pleasure boat sank in the River Thames after it was hit by the Bowbelle, Lord Justice Clarke's inquiry said the collision was due to "poor lookout" on both vessels.
"Neither vessel saw the other in time to take action to avoid the collision," his report said and he blamed the owners of both vessels for failing to provide adequate training to navigate the busy channels of the River Thames.
The captain of the Marchioness, Mr Stephen Faldo, died in the tragedy but the Bowbelle's captain, Mr Douglas Henderson, is still working on vessels in Europe and he was acquitted on a charge of failing to keep a proper lookout in 1991.
Lord Justice Clarke criticised him for drinking heavily in the afternoon prior to the collision at 1.45 a.m. on the morning of August 21st, 1989, although the reported accepted that it was unlikely he had alcohol in his bloodstream at the time of the accident.
The report described the disaster as a "catastrophe which should never have happened" and condemned Capt Henderson for failing to provide rescue assistance to the Marchioness or posting sufficient lookouts.
It criticised his behaviour prior to the collision, but Lord Justice Clarke said there was little chance of prosecution.
Too much time had passed and on human rights grounds it was not possible to recommend prosecution against Capt Henderson, Lord Justice Clarke concluded.
However, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Prescott said he would refer the findings to the DPP "for him to consider whether action would be appropriate against Capt Henderson or any other party", even though he had been advised a criminal proceedings against Capt Henderson were unlikely.
Responding to the report, Mrs Eileen Dallaglio, whose daughter, Francesca Guila Maria (19), died on the Marchioness, said the families would continue their fight for justice.
Lord Justice Clarke also led a separate investigation into the identification of the victims of the disaster after it was revealed that the hands of more than 20 of the dead had been cut off for finger printing.
Publishing the findings of the second report, Lord Justice Clarke said Westminster coroner, Dr Paul Knapman, must "bear the responsibility" for the unnecessary removal of hands.