Canvey boatbuilders today heaved a huge sigh of relief after their jobs were secured with the launch of a new Essex-based yacht company.

Around 25 shopfloor workers found themselves out of work last week when a cash crisis led to receivers being called into world renowned Charfleets-based catamaran builder Prouts.

But now CBN Marine, which was set up by former Prout employees in a new factory in Braintree just three weeks ago, has offered new jobs to ten of the company's workforce, with plans to double that number within weeks.

Back in business - former Prouts employees Terry Croarkin, Tony Evennett and Paul Redman, now with CBN Marine Picture: ANDREW BELFORD 7TFHA1

The company, a joint venture between the 200-year-old Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Company and Terry Croarkin, the former general manager at Prouts, is negotiating with the owners of 11 boats left unfinished when the company went under, and has so far won contracts to complete six of them.

Mr Croarkin is hopeful that in spite of the hardships of the past weeks, a bright future is in store for the Canvey workers.

He said: "There's nobody out there in the marketplace that can build Prout boats like these lads. They have been very loyal to the Prouts name and the product, so they are all very upset about what's happened.

"We are all just hoping that the Prouts name can be kept alive somehow. But it does mean we can guarantee the clients the quality that they have come to expect."

Published Monday, March 4, 2002