David Z Launches Shipping Season on McKay Bay
Les Cheneaux Residents Regard First Ship as Sign of Spring

The former David Z. Norton, now bearing the name David Z, was the first stone-carrying freighter to arrive at Oglebay Norton's Cedarville dock on McKay Bay Wednesday morning, April 11, launching the Cedarville operation's 2007 shipping season. The arrival of the first boat in Cedarville is regarded by many locals as a sign that spring has finally arrived in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The 630-foot self-unloading vessel was built in 1973 by the American Shipbuilding Company, and was previously owned by Oglebay Norton Company until 2006, when she was sold to Wisconsin and Michigan Steamship Company of Lakewood, Ohio. The image above, taken from the Cedarville dock Wednesday afternoon, shows the vessel's stern, with working sailors while the ship is loading.