Shipping community mourns passing of Robert Lancelot Kinlocke
THE ENTIRE maritime community of Jamaica and the Caribbean is mourning the sudden passing of Robert Kinlocke, managing committee member of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), chairman of Gateway Shipping International Limited (formerly GraceKennedy Shipping Limited), International Shipping Limited, R K Logistics Limited and a director of SAJE Logistics Infrastructure Limited.
Last year, Kinlocke was honoured during the SAJ’s 80th anniversary for his tremendous contributions to shipping in Jamaica and the region.
FROM THE SAJ
“Robert’s was never a loud voice, but it was one to which you would listen because from him you could always expect wisdom and reason,” said Charles Johnston, president of the SAJ. He continued:
“I have known Robert almost 50 years. We have been strong competitors in the shipping and logistics business, but we have also been great collaborators in the development of the industry and in business. We have served together on boards, including that of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, and as president, I have benefited from his counsel. I shall miss him and so will our industry. On behalf of my family, myself and the members of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, I extend condolences to his widow and family. May his soul rest in peace.”
FROM SAJE
“It was with great shock and sadness that I learnt of the passing of Robert Kinlocke,” said Kim Clarke, chairman of SAJE Logistics Infrastructure Limited. Clarke continued: “On behalf of SAJE we mourn the passing of a stalwart in the shipping industry.
“In the past few weeks we had many meetings making plans for the future and he contributed with his thoughts and ideas in making the company better. His presence will be surely missed by all. Walk good Mr Kinlocke.”
A WORKING LIFE DEDICATED TO SHIPPING
Robert Kinlocke is among few persons who can truthfully claim to have been in the shipping industry for all his working life. He hails from Broughton, Westmoreland, where his parents were farmers and is the seventh of their 15 children. He was the first to attend secondary school and is a proud graduate of The Manning’s School. Upon leaving high school in 1970, an older brother who then worked at Sprostons Shipping in Kingston informed him of a job opening at Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL). He was interviewed and selected for the job as a clerk with responsibility for the preparation of tonnage reports and forklift contractors’ payroll.
A FRIEND REMEMBERS THEIR CLIMB TO SUCCESS
It was at KWL that Kinlocke met Condell Stephenson, another young man who would become his friend for the rest of his life.
With a hunger for upward mobility and intent on climbing the ladder of success, the young man from Westmoreland, and his friend Stephenson, enrolled in evening classes where they took courses in economics, law and accounts and was successful in the Associated Examining Board exams. Following this, Kinlocke approached his superiors at KWL for sponsorship to pursue business studies at The College of Arts Science and Technology, now University of Technology. His positive work attitude was so impressive that they unhesitatingly consented to facilitate his request. Both Kinlocke and Stephenson were granted a one day weekly release from work to attend evening classes.
Having successfully completed this course, Kinlocke went on to pursue studies in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants programme. However, approximately a year later, in 1976 he abandoned that pursuit and instead accepted the company’s offer to him and Stephenson to read for a bachelor’s degree in maritime studies at the University of Wales, United Kingdom. In 1979, after successfully completing the course, they returned to Jamaica as management trainees with KWL. Kinlocke made it his business to learn everything there was to know about the operations of the company, from the most menial tasks to the functioning of every department.
AT THE PAJ
Early in the 1980s, while still a management trainee, KWL placed Kinlocke at the Port Authority of Jamaica to work with the consultancy team of Louis Berger International, who were selected to undertake the first port development and marketing study for the Port of Kingston, funded by USAID. He gained invaluable experience and knowledge over the six months, travelling with the team to other ports in the hemisphere to observe and learn from their operations. At the end of this exercise he assumed the position of acting general manager at International Shipping Limited, then agent for Zim Container Line.
AT KWL
In 1981 he returned to KWL and was appointed general manager, and later managing director of this entity. In this capacity he oversaw the successful merger of KWL and Western Terminals Limited. At that time, GraceKennedy was the major shareholder of KWL. In his role as managing director, Kinlocke led the team in the modernisation of KWL to take advantage of the increase in container business. During that time, the company bought its first Gottwald crane.
In 2001 Kinlocke returned to The Kingston Container Terminal, this time, as the managing director, and remained in that capacity until 2003 when GraceKennedy exited the shipping industry.
He also served as director of several companies, including GraceKennedy Ltd, Kingston Wharves Ltd, Security Administrators Ltd, Harbour Cold Stores Ltd, Shipping Association of Jamaica, Kingston Terminal Operators Ltd, CMA CGM (Ja) Ltd, Port Authority of Jamaica and Maritime Authority.
THE ENTREPRENEUR
The decision by GraceKennedy to exit the shipping industry created the opportunity for Kinlocke to become an entrepreneur. Backed by his years of experience in the industry, he took a leap of faith and purchased the following entities from GraceKennedy.
• GraceKennedy Shipping Limited – renamed Gateway Shipping International Limited.
• International Shipping Limited.
• GraceKennedy Logistics Limited – renamed RK Logistics Limited.
He also had a minority interest in
Allied Trucking & Maritime Services Limited.
SERVICE AND MENTORSHIP
Kinlocke was involved in the activities of the SAJ from the 1980s and for many years represented KWL on the managing committee. Up until the time of his passing, he continued to serve on the SAJ’s managing committee and as a director of SAJE Logistics Infrastructure Limited.
His advice to young professionals in shipping was this: “Don’t limit yourself to the operations of the department in which you work; learn everything about the business – from ship to shore and beyond – because shipping is a very dynamic and complicated operation that is only as strong as its weakest link”.
Notwithstanding his busy schedule, Kinlocke found time to engage in community activities and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Kingston. He introduced his lifelong friend, Stephenson, now port captain of Hoegh Autoliners, to Rotary and he is now a proud member of that club. Struggling to keep back tears, Stephenson said: “I have lost a friend and a brother; Robert was a man of impeccable integrity – compassionate and resourceful; a forthright person who would tell you the uncomfortable truth without malice because, for him, a man’s reputation was everything, more valuable than silver and gold.”
A devoted family man, Kinlocke is being mourned by his wife, Beverley, and their four children. Beverley, along with Richard – one of their sons – are integrally involved in the day-to-day running of the businesses.
In recognition of his outstanding professional accomplishments and immense contribution to the development of the Jamaican and Caribbean shipping industry, the Shipping Association of Jamaica, in celebration of its 80th anniversary, paid tribute to Robert Kinlocke last year. The shipping community mourns his passing and recommits to his ideal of a modern, sustainable and peoplefriendly maritime industry that will benefit all Jamaicans.