TESTIMONIAL
ASCO Trinidad Ltd Trinidadian and ASCO Executive Director John Gransaull explains how and why ASCO came to Trinidad and what keeps it here.
Who is ASCO? ASCO Trinidad Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the ASCO Group, provides shore-base, pipe-yard, marine and warehouse logistics services to many of the major oil and gas companies operating in Trinidad and Tobago. We also provide advanced and integrated waste management services and vessel tankcleaning. The company has a highly competent staff that operates the advanced systems and tools and manages a large sub-contractor workforce. What brought the company to T&T and when? The company established a permanent presence in T&T in 2001 when it won a five-year contract with bpTT who was looking at the possibility of outsourcing their logistics and marine operations in Galeota Point. ASCO was successful in retaining the contract when it was rebid 10 years later for the operations at Galeota Point to go through a complete refurbishment. What has helped the business to succeed? ASCO Trinidad is almost entirely managed and operated by locals and our customer base has grown to include many of the major oil and gas companies operating in Trinidad. Additionally, the company has been successful in supporting operations in Suriname, French Guiana, Guyana and in the Falkland Islands with local employees and resources, in addition to establishing operations in those facilities managed by Trinidad personnel. The company has piloted many tools and systems that are adopted across the ASCO global organisation. Initially, we started with an excellent relationship with our major client, bpTT, and were deeply embedded in their operation. Jointly, we managed to greatly improve bpTT’s logistics efficiency, costs and safety performance. Also, ASCO
was committed to using personnel from the surrounding areas and to use expat managers only for training periods. In addition, we have been fortunate to have had excellent relationships with our sub-contractor workforce and to a very large extent are still using the same subs for the last 11 years. Being a member of a large and very dynamic global organisation has helped tremendously in access to best practice systems, processes and tools and also having access to advanced training and networking. What do you like about living in T&T? I can speak for one or two of the expats as I have a very good relationship with them – they enjoy the spirit and the nature of Trinidadians and the very strong can-do attitude. Also, Trinidadians are competent and hardworking but always have time to enjoy themselves and what they do. The society is fun-loving and inclusive and broad-minded and they have made friendships that are permanent and genuine. Almost all of the expats that have worked in ASCO Trinidad have stayed and now have local partners and wives. The weather is also a big plus as most of the expats have come from areas where the weather is inhospitable What do you find special or unique about T&T? It’s a big country in the oil and gas (and other) sectors with state-of-the-art processes, systems and infrastructure while still being an island with warm, friendly and inviting people. It can be exciting, dangerous, engaging, satisfying, tranquil and frustrating all in the same day – it’s got a cosmopolitan people and feel, some of the best food in the world and a place where you are welcomed.
Business Trinidad & Tobago • 75