Kingston Wharf 75th Anniversary

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2020 43 KINGSTON WHARVES 75TH ANNIVERSARY R OBERT KINLOCKE was a towering figure in the shipping industry – well respected, admired and beloved. His impact extended into many areas of the sector, including port management, ship- ping agency, haulage, logistics and others. Mr Kinlocke served as General Manager and later Managing Director of KingstonWharves Limited during the time of GraceKennedy’s management. He entered Kingstonwharves straight out of high school in 1970, beginning as a clerk with responsibility for tonnage reports and forklift contractors’ payroll. He threw himself into the work, learning all he couldby serving in various areas of thebusiness. Mr Kinlocke alsodida stint at the Kingston Container Terminal in various managerial roles, coveringoperations, planning and stevedoring. With the support of Kingston Wharves, he would complete studies at the College of Arts, Science andTechnology (nowUTech) and the University ofWales where he earned a degree in Maritime Studies. After garnering years of experience and improving academically, Mr. Kinlocke was appointed General Manager of KWL in 1981 and Managing Director approxi- mately a decade later. When Grace Kennedy sold its shipping business in 2003, Mr Kinlocke, the loyal and respected employee, was offered the oppor- tunity to purchase a segment of the business, andhedid. HewouldoperateGateway Shipping International Limited, International Shipping Limited andRK Logistics until his passing earlier this year. Kingston Wharves’ CEO Mark Williams ob- served that Mr Kinlocke’s strong bond with KWL never diminished when he left and formed Gateway Shipping International Limited and the other companies. “In his role as agent for a number of shipping lines calling on KWL, he was always fair and balanced in support of his clients while protecting the interest of Jamaica and Jamaican entities such as KWL.” He said. “Mr Kinlocke was a man of integrity and a straight shooter. I admired his directness; you could always rely on him to speak his mind respectfully and tomove on in a positive manner from disagreements. The shipping industry is better because Mr Kinlocke was a major player in it for so many years,” Mr. Williams noted. Other KWL teammembers shared theirmem- ories of the former Managing Director. Paula Edwards-Hutchinson remember himwithmuch respect and fondness. “He was a tall and gen- tle giant. He was well known and liked in the shipping industry. As a leader, there was no fear in talking with him. He listened and gave good advice. No matter where you run into him, he would not pass you without `hailing you up’,”she said. Paula began working at Kingston Wharves as a youngster and was encouraged and sup- ported by Mr Kinlocke in her journey. “His knowledge of the shipping industry was vast and impressive. I sometimes askedhimfor help when I was doingprojects andhomeworkwhile studying at the CaribbeanMaritimeUniversity. He had empathy for his staff and was always willing to assist where necessary. At bonus time if peoplewere not pleased, when January came aroundhepresented themwithanother‘smalls,’” she recalled. Crane Operators Andrew Thomas and Courtney Gordon remember Mr Kinlocke as a man with a can-do spirit who was never daunted by a challenge when it came to get- ting the job done. AndrewThomas shared about the timewhen a container ship ranagroundoff the coast of Port Royal. “There was a mix up with the ship and the harbour master and the ship ran aground. It was stuck with over hundreds of containers on board, with people waiting on their cargo,” he underscored. “Mr Kinlocke declared that we had to help the vessel and customers out. Therefore, he rented a barge,hoisted the crane on it and got the barge out to the ship in Port Royal.We took off about 220 containers fromthedisabled ship, loading themunto thebarge andheadingback to the terminal where we offloaded them,” he remembered. “I was so tired afterwards, but at the end of the day, I felt a sense of satisfaction that I was able to help Mr Kinlocke succeed in serving customers,”Andrew recounted. Mr Kinlocke’s long-time friend, Condell Stephenson, also a past employee of Kingston Wharves, paid tribute at the thanksgiving service for his life. “Robert, I remember you as someone full of integrity, compassionate, resourceful, forthright, principled and never overbearing. I remember you as being reli- able, a big thinker, generous, truthful, well- rounded, very thoughtful and a dedicated family man.” TheKingstonWharves teamexpresses sincere condolences to the Kinlocke family. Kingston Wharves CEO Mark WIlliams in candid conversation with Robert Kinlocke. REMEMBERING ROBERT KINLOCKE