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This article is about the tug fleet. You may be looking for the organisation.
"They were a good crew, striving to be the best in the port. Not always succeeding, but proud of their work."
— Captain Star describing his fleet, Sunshine
StarFleetFlag

Star Tug and Marine (affectionately known as the Star Fleet or the Star Tugs) are one of two tugboat fleets that work in Bigg City Port. They are based off the tugs of San Francisco waters from the 1920s. Throughout the series, the Star Fleet's main rivals are Captain Zero's Z-Stacks.

Description

The Star Fleet consists of a variety of tugs. That being two switchers, two harbour tugs, one paddle wheeled harbour tug, one railway tug and one oceangoing tug. The Star Tugs and their friendly and brave personalities are meant to represent a bright side of harbour life in the 1920s while the Z-Stacks represent the dark side.

Sunshine and Grampus joined (Sunshine and Regatta) the Star Fleet during the series. A tug named Boomer (who was found drifting out at sea by Ten Cents and Sunshine) was also given a trial. However, after a series of bad luck on every job Boomer took, Captain Star sent him to Lucky's Yard with strict instructions for them to make him anything, except a tug again. Lucky's Yard rebuilt Boomer into a house boat.

Basis

The Star Fleet is based on the Crowley Maritime fleet, a company founded in San Francisco in 1892. It is also named after the last ever fleet of commercial sailing scows on the West Coast of North America, operated by the manufacturer Alaska Packers' Association.

Contracts

Members

Former

Trivia

  • Grampus' number is shown on a flag, unlike the tugs. However he only wore said flag in the episode Regatta and all of his book appearances.
  • Zebedee helped the Star Fleet when they had trouble with the Princess Alice in High Winds. After that incident, Zebedee was offered a place in the Star Fleet, but he refused.
  • They were once referred as the "Star Stacks" in Munitions by Zorran.
  • Grampus, Sunshine and Boomer are the only characters to join (and in Boomer's case, leave) the fleet onscreen.
  • The tugs' names are written in the font "Volta Std Bold" except Sunshine. His name instead is written in "Clarendon Text Pro Regular".
  • Ironically, there was a real company called 'Star Tug & Marine Co. Ltd' owned by David Mitton. The first tug ("Thomas") is currently undergoing a refit and the second tug ("Kennet") still runs today under different ownership.

Gallery

Star Tug and Marine

7 Tugs | 1 Submarine | 1 Former Member
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