Montpellier (AFP)
Moored in the port of Sète, a ship has turned into a factory producing bottles of hydroalcoholic solution, a rare product in the midst of a coronavirus epidemic, by promising to release several hundred thousand bottles per week.
"In the DNA of all sailors, there is rescue at sea and solidarity. Since the French people are in need of products, and since we have all the facilities on site, we had to do something for our fellow citizens "explains Régis Revilliod, owner of the" factory boat "Odeep One and founder of the company OFW Ships.
A former Soviet train ferry already authorized to transport dangerous materials such as ethanol, the ship has been producing bottled drinking water from deoded seawater since December 2019.
In ten days, the company has redesigned its production lines to accommodate on board the installation necessary for bottling the hydroalcoholic solution, used for hand disinfection in the midst of a coronavirus epidemic.
The bottling carousel has been adapted and "equipped with an automatic watering belt and a fan to make it compliant with alcohol filling", explains Régis Revilliod, who obtained the agreement of the Regional Direction environment, development and housing as well as the prefecture.
On board, 39 of the company's sailors and chemists, all trained in fire risks, have been working since Wednesday to start production, which operates day and night. "The first day, we produced ten tonnes of bottles in a dozen hours," says Charles Denise, technical director.
This floating factory plans to increase its production rate day by day to reach in a few days the 765,000 bottles per week, a quantity never equaled in France, promises the company.
But to achieve this, the Odeep One will need to be regularly supplied with ethanol. "We have, for the moment, no problem. We have a dozen suppliers of bioethanol, an ingredient authorized by the government in the composition of the solution. But we will need regular deliveries, day and night," warns the 'shipowner.
If the composition of the hydro-alcoholic solution has been scrupulously respected according to the formulation published by the WHO, the owner has added the skills of a pharmacist to verify the recipe.
Via the StopCovid19 platform, several large retail chains have already indicated their interest in purchasing these hydroalcoholic solutions, the price of which is regulated by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. The OFW Ships company also launched a call for donations in order to quickly supply services, particularly in tension on this product, such as the police, the gendarmerie or the carers.
© 2020 AFP