Kenneth Barned, former managing director of A.J. Barned and Sons Limited, was one of the most knowledgeable, visionary and principled businessmen to have entered the shipping industry.

Barned made his transition on January 28. Described by many who worked with him as one of the most outspoken in the shipping industry, Ken Barned was the second-generation Barned to enter the customs-brokerage and freight-forwarding business in the 1950s after joining his father's firm.

He worked in the shipping industry for more than 40 years and served as president of the Customs Brokers Association of Jamaica and the Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica. He is credited with assisting the Shipping Association of Jamaica's (SAJ) Agents Committee to achieve relevance.

SAJ President Roger Hinds said Barned was a stalwart of the shipping industry and noted that his contribution, dedication and selfless service will not be forgotten.

"Ken was highly respected throughout the entire industry. He was regarded as a visionary leader by anyone who ever worked with him," Hinds said.

Greatly missed

"He will be greatly missed," said Harry Maragh, chief executive officer of Lannaman and Morris Shipping Limited. Maragh noted that when he entered the shipping business, Barned was one of the individuals who immediately struck him as someone who knew the business well.

"You could always call on him to get some advice. At the agents' meeting, he was easily one of the voices we liked to hear. His contribution was of benefit to the SAJ and shipping agents," Maragh concluded.

These sentiments were echoed by fellow freight forwarder Denise Lyn Fatt, managing director of Freight Handlers Limited, who noted that Barned was always very generous with his time and knowledge.

"He was one of the wiser heads who would always put a different spin on things because of his customs brokerage knowledge," Mrs Lyn Fatt said.

President of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica, Christopher Kennedy, described Barned as a pioneer in the exporting and freight- forwarding business who advocated for the best interests of the members of the association during his 40 years as a member of the association.

"In the early 1990s as the legal chairman for the association, Barned was instrumental in the development and adoption of a new constitution and canon for the association, and as one of the three trustees of the association Barned ensured that the interest of our members was well protected," Kennedy noted.

"This stalwart will be greatly missed and will long be remembered for his tremendous contribution to the customs brokerage, freight forwarding and shipping industry," he added.

Corah Ann Robertson Sylvester, chief executive officer for Seaboard Jamaica, fondly remembered Barned as a warm individual who was always willing to impart his knowledge.

"He had a wealth of knowledge and his willingness to share this knowledge with other young people was remarkable. I looked forward to going to meetings with him because you would always walk away learning something," Robertson Sylvester said.

Group operations manager for Maritime and Transport Services Limited, Joseph Lowe, said Barned was well-respected among his peers. "He was a patient person who always had a listening ear. He was very outspoken, a man of integrity, a man you could depend on," Lowe said.

Barned is survived by his wife Rita, children Marguerite, Jennifer, and Andrew, grandchildren Giselle, Nicholas, Britney, Gabrielle, Christopher, Alex, Alana, Adam and his shipping family.