Owner of derelict Grand Traverse Bay barge faces charges

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

This image is from spring 2021, when the barge had sunken in Grand Traverse Bay offshore from Elmwood Township.

This image is from spring 2021, when the barge had sunken in Grand Traverse Bay offshore from Elmwood Township.

This image is from spring 2021, when the barge had sunken in Grand Traverse Bay offshore from Elmwood Township.

A barge owned by Balcom Marine Contractors lists in the Lake Michigan waters of Grand Traverse Bay on May 6, 2023. Listing is a nautical term for taking on water and tilting to one side.

The sunken barge in the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. A white oil containment boom was attached to slow the spread of the discharged oil.

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A Balcom Marine Contracting barge in West Grand Traverse Bay’s Hall Bay near Northport, Mich., May 13, 2023. The barge is notorious for sinking in various spots around the area. On June 22, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged owner Donald Balcom of Traverse City with a felony related to oil releases from the barge and other misdemeanors. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

A barge owned by Balcom Marine Contracting is floating again after sinking for a second time in Grand Traverse Bay.