Air Freight—Emirates SkyCargo has purchased its first Boeing 747-400F freighter, with a capacity of 120 metric tons. The airline also has opened a new cargo center at its Dubai home base. The high-security, narrow-aisle facility has a capacity of 400,000 metric tons annually. Automated data collection and a special quick-transfer area for transshipments—which make up 70 percent of the cargo arriving in Dubai—have helped reduce transit times. Korean Air's new cargo facilities at the Incheon International Airport have more than doubled its handling capacity, from 464,000 to 800,000 metric tons. Air Foyle and HeavyLift have agreed to form a joint venture that will market and sell commercial charters for all aircraft operated by Russia's Antonov Airline.

Freight Forwarders—Wilson Logistics has launched Direct Distribution, a service that handles storage, inventory management, and delivery of imported goods after arrival in the United States. It is available in five major metropolitan areas. Schenker Inc. and Global Delivery Systems (GDS) have teamed up to offer a new emergency service called "Global First." GDS, with more than 200 offices worldwide, specializes in air charter, courier, and express service.

Ocean Shipping—Columbus Line has added sailings from the West Coast of North America to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands; has launched new service to and from Manzanillo, Mexico; and has cut the transit time between Los Angeles and Sydney from 23 to 19 days. Yang MingLine's new weekly, fixed-day Pacific Southwest Express service will cut transit times to North Asia by five to eight days. Five new 5,500-TEU (tonnage-equivalent unit) vessels are being phased in on the route. Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) will establish a new hub at the Port of Le Havre, France. Traffic volumes are expected to grow from an initial 150,000 TEUs to 500,000 TEUs annually by 2004. "K" Line now offers fortnightly roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) service at the Port of Galveston, Texas, for agricultural and construction equipment. Maersk Sealand has opened a new gate complex at the Port of Miami. The facility features advanced security systems and a new 10-lane gate.