INTRODUCING "THE GOOD SEAMARITAN"

TSREG'S Trash Collection Boat Serving the Newport Harbor

Newport Harbor is more than just a body of water; it’s a central part of our community’s lifestyle and heritage. The Tim Smith Real Estate Group is dedicated to preserving this treasure for current and future generations. By investing in the latest technology to clean and maintain our harbor, we aim to enhance the quality of life for all Newport Beach residents and visitors.

Q&A

Q: Can you provide some background on how the Good Seamaritan trash boat initiative started?

A: “The Good Seamaritan was an idea that myself and an agent on my team, Greg Blake, came up with as a way to keep our harbor clean and give back to the community.” – Tim Smith

Q: Who operates the boat, and how often does it go out to clean the harbor?

A: Robert Sloan captains the boat 3x per week. Robert is a Coast Guard licensed 100-ton captain who also operates various charter boats in Newport Harbor.

Q: What specific areas of Newport Harbor does the boat cover?

A: “The Good Seamaritan cleans all of the Newport Harbor and part of the back (upper bay).

The boat’s route often includes passing through high-traffic areas such as the Balboa Bay Resort and Billy's, to Lido Marina and the Cannery, out to Newport Harbor Yacht Club, skimming the waters along the waterfront homes as well as giving extra attention to high-traffic public docks.” – Tim Smith

“In addition to our usual route, there are parts of the bay where trash tends to collect, similar to the Pacific Garbage Patch. The top of the Rhine Channel by the Cannery Restaurant and right by the Galley Restaurant and Basin Marine are two such places where we collect trash every trip.” – Robert Sloan

Q: How much trash does the Good Seamaritan typically collect during each trip?

A: “On average, our efforts are collecting 40-50 pounds of trash daily. Four-hundred fifty-five pounds has been the largest collection in a single day thus far.” – Tim Smith

Q: What types of trash are most commonly found in the harbor?

A: “We see everything from bags of trash to old mattresses, balloons, household items like sleeping bags, plastic waste, logs, wildlife remains, and ropes. You name it.” – Tim Smith

Q: Has the boat been involved in any larger environmental clean-up initiatives or partnerships?

A: “We work with the Harbormaster and The Harbor Department. We take all the trash to them at Marina Park. They weigh the trash and dispose of it in their dumpsters.

As far as larger clean-up partnerships go, we are a new operation, only 2 months old, so we haven’t been involved with any other initiatives yet.” Tim Smith

Q: Are there volunteer opportunities for community members to get involved with the clean-up efforts?

A: “We welcome anyone on board who wants to help clean the harbor! One of our frequent volunteers has been Christian Buhl, who is the founder of CIS, California Inclusive Sailing. His organization takes disabled persons sailing on his specially designed, 16-foot sailboat for free. 

For new volunteers, our captain will give a bay tour, which he is an expert on, and deckhand training as well. It’s also a great opportunity for students who need volunteer service hours to graduate.” – Tim Smith

Q: What challenges does the Good Seamaritan face in keeping the harbor clean?

A: “The biggest challenge will be when it rains again, and all the trash from inland arrives via the back bay. Also, when the Santa Ana winds start up again. But I’m ready for that! Right now, the bay is as clean as it gets.” – Robert Sloan

Q: What are the future goals for the trash boat initiative—expansion, education programs, or collaboration with other harbors?

A: “We would love to get more people involved and partner with local organizations to bring more awareness to the health of our waters.” – Tim Smith

Q: How is the Good Samaritan funded? Is it supported by the city, donations, or a private organization?

A: Tim Smith purchased the boat and funds 100% of the operational expenses.

Q: Are there any plans for acquiring more boats or other equipment to improve the cleaning process?

A: “We would love to expand to other Orange County harbors in the future, but for now, we’re just getting started in Newport.” – Tim Smith