Carlsson was, to a large degree, the architect of Stena’s development from some 3,000 employees at the start of the 1980s to a staff of 20,000 worldwide today. He worked closely with shipowner Dan Sten Olsson, helping the company’s expansion plans become a reality.

Ulf Ryder, chief executive of Stena Bulk for several decades, said of Carlsson: “He was always very calm, even in difficult negotiations.