World - GAC

GAC FACEShe says. “We built a slipway to land anddrydock our boats, and soon enough thefishermen were landing their boats as well.Later, the Abu Dhabi Navy dropped by andwe started helping them too.”The collectorIn Abu Dhabi, his task was simple butdemanding: keep GAC’s growing fleet ofsupply boats, tugs and barges in the bestcondition possible.Olsson learned to improvise andcollect. Wood, metal, old oil pipes, whateverwas lying around or could be salvaged fromthe shallow Gulf waters, was all put to gooduse in Olsson’s expanding workyard.“If you look after something properly,it will serve you well for a long time,” hesays. In an age where so much is made tofall apart, such an attitude is the goldenthread that ties a reputation together. GACMarine is known as a quality provider ofvessels and men. Much of this stems fromthe influence of Olsson, making sure themillimetres are measured and that thesolution fits the problem.The menOlsson’s world is full of men: captainsand crews, operations staff and draftsmen,dockyard workers, welders, cutters, fitters,electricians, machinists and carpenters. Inthe early days, his team was drawn mainlyfrom the Maldives & India, and he has thehighest regard for those who joined him onthe beach and started to build a world-classtechnical operation.“They were fast learners and reliableworkers,” he says. “We now have workers,staff, sailors and officers from 13 differentcountries. They’re the cogs that turn thewheels. Thanks to them, and to thosebefore them, GAC Marine is in the topleague of Marine Operations in the Gulf.”The movesOlsson’s operations in Abu Dhabi are now attheir fourth location. A government ownedcompany got a lease on his beach so hemoved offshore to a small island. That lastedfor more than a decade until Abu Dhabi’sruler looked out of his beachside palace oneday to see one of Olsson’s crane tops stickingup over the sand dunes. That led to a visitfrom His Highness’s people, some quietchats with his Navy friends and a move backto the mainland, south of Abu Dhabi city.He stayed there for another decade beforemoving – again - in 2006 to the GAC Marinebase’s present location, where the companyholds a renewable 30-year lease.The lady’s name is GunThey say that behind every great man is agreat woman. In Olsson’s case you shouldchange ‘behind’ to ‘beside’. Olsson’s wifeGun has been in Abu Dhabi nearly as longher husband, and has quietly and steadilykept the Olsson ship afloat and in trim.She is an essential part of Olsson’s storyand of his success in making GAC Marinea quality icon in Gulf waters. To leaveher out of Olsson’s story would be likechopping off his right hand.The boat builderNot content simply to maintain GAC’sGulf fleet, he decided in the 1990s toadd to it. From a slipway, he progressedto a dockyard and fabrication unit withcomputer guided steel cutters and welders;a place of blueprints and wiring diagrams,marine engines and winches. He has builta fleet of tugs and supply boats for GAC,at standards and prices that make captainssmile and accountants tremble.Even today, as he works on finishinghis fourth Anchor-Handling Tug for GAC,he remains restless. That attitude hastested the patience of more than one GACmanager and even Björn Engblom, hislong time colleague and GAC’s ExecutiveChairman, knows how stubborn Olsson canbe when he sets his mind on something.“Bengt is unique and special, and hehas given so much of himself to GAC,” saysEngblom. “He has pushed me to my limitson more than one occasion, and there areothers who have simply thrown up theirhands and walked away. But the thing is,what Bengt aims for is what we all want – todo something that’s worthy, that’s quality,that you’re proud to put your name on.”The next moveThere is no telling what Olsson will donext when his tug is finished. One thing iscertain, he won’t stop being a maker andmaintainer of metal and machines. Thereare big plates of steel in his dockyard, anda glint of the same metal in his eyes. He’sa millimetre man with a magician’s touch.Always will be.JULY 2010 | GAC WORLD 17