The Cleveland-based company, Kinsman Marine Transit Company, was established in 1901 after Henry Steinbrenner purchased the Minch Transit Company upon marrying Sophia Minch. Steinbrenner renamed the company to Kinsman Marine Transit because of the street he and Sophia lived on – No. 90 Kinsman Street, Cleveland, Ohio. Although the company was known as Kinsman Marine Transit, the logo has been represented with a large white “S” for the last name Steinbrenner seen on this recreation of the company’s rectangular flag. 

Henry revitalized the company in the shipment of coal and eventually shifted the focus to grain. The company was passed down from generation to generation, with George Steinbrenner III being the last to join in 1957. In the 1960s, Kinsman Marine Transit became a subsidiary of the American Shipbuilding company after George became a majority investor. In 1975, S&E shipping took control of the remaining Kinsman vessels and rebranded themselves as S&E Shipping, Kinsman Lines.