- "The tugboat (for its size) is the most powerful craft afloat. And the Star Tugs are the power behind the docks and waterways that make up the Bigg City Port. This is Tugs!"
- — Captain Star (during the intro)
Captain Star is the most prominent character in the whole series, due to the fact that he narrates it. He uses a white and blue striped megaphone to call out to the Star Tugs.
Bio
Captain Star is a veteran sailor, and owns the Star Fleet. He takes great pride in his fleet, but will also be hard on them in order to succeed. He is usually very strict if something does not go as it is supposed to.
He has seven tugs and one submarine (from Regatta on wards). They are as follows: Ten Cents (1), Big Mac (2), O.J. (3), Top Hat (4), Warrior (5), Hercules (6), Sunshine (7), and Grampus (8).
Like other characters (such as Captain Zero, the Quarry Master, O. Krappenschitt, and the Fuel Depot Manager), Captain Star never makes an appearance as a person and is only represented by voice over and with his megaphone.
In Salty's Lighthouse, Captain Star is depicted as a woman and being friends with Captain Zero, though still maintaining the business rivalry between them.
Appearances
Episodes
- Sunshine
- Pirate
- Trapped (narration only; mentioned)
- Regatta
- Munitions (narration only in 15 minute cut)
- Warrior (narration only; full role cut)
- High Tide
- Quarantine
- Ghosts (narration only; cameo)
- Jinxed
- High Winds (narration only; does not speak)
- Up River (narration only; mentioned)
- Bigg Freeze (narration only)
Books and Annuals
- Run Aground
- Nothing to Declare
- The Race
- The Missing Barge
- Heat Wave
- Ship In Distress
- Naval Manoeuvres
- Ten Cents' Busy Day
Trivia
- In concept art and multiple pieces of merchandising, his name is spelled with a second 'r' as "Captain Starr". This is possibly a reference to Ringo Starr, drummer for The Beatles and narrator of the first two seasons of Thomas & Friends.
- He is one of the few characters to have a large scale model.
- In Salty's Lighthouse, Captain Star was portrayed as a woman, along with Sunshine and Little Ditcher.
Quotes
- "The 1920s. Bigg City Port was the biggest harbour in the world. It was a time of change and great opportunity. Nobody knew it better than the hardworking tugs, whose strength and big hearts made them popular with everybody from tramp steamers to ocean liners. Important jobs in the port often kept them working night and day. My tugs (the Star Fleet) were no exception. I had three harbour tugs: O.J. (a paddle-steamer). Warrior and Big Mac. (A railway tug) Top Hat. (One little switcher) Ten Cents. And Hercules (my oceangoing tug). They were a good crew, striving to be the best in the port. Not always succeeding, but proud of their work."
- — Captain Star describing Bigg City Port and his fleet, Sunshine
- "I know you're all proud of being Star Tugs, but the most important thing in my fleet (after hard work) is that my tugs always be true, honest, and forgiving."
- — Captain Star addressing his fleet after Sunshine is proven innocent regarding the incident with The Duchess, Sunshine
- "The accident was caused by a few hasty words and bad temper. Orders may be orders but they don't supersede common sense. Bluenose was right in his way, as were Ten Cents and O.J. right in theirs, but common sense from all three would have prevented the fire starting. Always respect fire. If you don't, it will destroy you, your surroundings, and your friends."
- — Captain Star at the end of Munitions
- "Warrior might have bumped into things, but I couldn't have done without him. He was a valuable member of my Star Tug team - a striker, you might call him!"
- — Captain Star describing Warrior at the end of his namesake episode
- "Bigg City Port never ceased working. Operations carried out throughout the night were continued in the early mornings. Goods stacked high along the docksides were brought into port by road and by rail. The lorries and wagons were then reloaded with cargo from incoming tramp steamers, ferries, and liners for delivery to inland cities and towns. Everyone and every method of transport played a part in moving goods into and out of the port. The work of our tugs was an important link in the chain. It was nonstop and round the clock. The lifeblood of the whole operation was coal. Without this dirty stuff, industry would have ground to a halt."
- — Captain Star at the beginning of High Tide
- "The Steel Company weren't pleased with the damage the Z-Stacks had done to their steel rig. However, it came out alright in the end. The Steel Company got the contract for repairing the bridge and (chuckle) I had no difficulty in convincing them that my Star Tugs should get the contract for delivering the steel."
- — Captain Star at the end of High Tide
- "After that day, things continued much as they were. But Zebedee showed that everyone must have a good streak in them somewhere. Even Z-Stacks."
- — Captain Star at the end of High Winds
Merchandise
- Port Set (discontinued)