Series 1

The first (and only) series of TUGS aired for a single run on UK television from the 4th April to 27th June 1989.

Behind the Scenes

The official length for TUGS episodes is 15 minutes. However, the episodes (Sunshine, Pirate, Regatta and Munitions) were released on VHS six months early (while the planned runtime was still 20 minutes). These episodes were put out due to Clearwater Features having to stay afloat during late 1988. The episodes Warrior, High Tide, Quarantine and High Winds originally had their runtime extended from 20 minutes to 22 minutes.

The 15 minute cuts of the former four episodes previously mentioned were never released on UK VHS, and have only survived time through few TV recordings. However, the four episodes were released in their 15 minute form on VHS releases in Finland (while Regatta and Munitions were released on VHS in Japan). However, that changed when they were released onto DVD in 2024 by Tugs: The Exhibition.

Episodes

Please note that there are different orders for the episodes; the one shown is how the episodes were broadcasted on Citv.

No.	Title	Writer	Director	UK air date
#01	Sunshine	Gloria Tors	David Mitton	4th April 1989
The Star Tugs are expecting their big break when they are due to tow in the Duchess, but when the Z Stacks run Big Mac aground in the hopes of taking over, the fleet's switcher, Ten Cents, and their dinky charter, Sunshine, are brought to help with a ocean liner for the very first time. Zorran's last-minute plan lands Sunshine in ignominy.
#02	Pirate	Tarquin Cardona David Mitton (story)	David Mitton	11th April 1989
A barge theft starts off making Ten Cents look suspicious. But soon, the thefts get out of hand to the extent that the Star Tugs and Z Stacks have to join forces to capture the thief. While this is happening, Grampus learns some devastating things about the thief, and must act quickly.
#03	Trapped	Chris Tulloch		18th April 1989
During the delivery of lumber from upriver mills to further downriver, Zug has to deliver a derelict tramp steamer to the Breaker's Yard. When Zorran tries to rush it, they cause the tramper to go off-course and block the river. Because the majority of the Star Tugs are on the up bound side, Zorran takes advantage of the situation, but the scheme eventually blows up in his wheelhouse.
#04	Regatta/4th July*	David Mitton		25th April 1989
The night before the annual regatta, Lillie Lightship is struck by a tramp steamer in the thick fog. She is saved by Grampus as she’s about to sink and sent to be repaired at Lucky's Yard, which gives her the opportunity to see the regatta. Meanwhile, Grampus is due to be blown up in the Navy’s target practice. Getting word of it, the Star Fleet organise a plan to save him - by pretending to be a clueless parade.
#05	Munitions	David Mitton		2nd May 1989
While the Star Tugs and Z-Stacks are taking dangerous freight to the naval tramper Kraka-Toa, Bluenose bosses everyone around. After a day of 'no's, he outright ignores the dangers at the Old Dock, shoves a barge full of explosives and starts a horrific fire. Several tugs are put in life-threatening danger trying to get the fire out before it spreads.
#06	Warrior	Robert D. Cardona	Chris Tulloch	9th May 1989
Warrior is taken off garbage detail to help Big Mac try to earn the contract to deliver rocks from the Quarry. His typical clumsiness proves a nuisance for everybody, but when Ten Cents is in danger, he jumps in to save his crewmate.
#07	High Tide	David Mitton		16th May 1989
Zebedee and Zak are competing against Big Mac and Warrior for the contract to deliver steel and go through the Canal to reach their destination quicker. Because they haven't considered the high tide, Zebedee’s tall load hits a railway bridge and puts the unaware trains in danger.
#08	Quarantine*	Tarquin Cardona	Chris Tulloch	23rd May 1989
Vessels are carrying diseases during a heat wave and so are quarantined away from land for forty days. Meanwhile, Captain Star is deciding if O.J. is past it and is offered a payment from Burke and Blair if he sells him for scrap.
#09	Ghosts	David Mitton		30th May 1989
Big Mac returns to the Star Dock stunned after seeing a fleet of seemingly ghostly tugs. The other tugs laugh at him for taking Scuttlebutt Pete’s stories seriously. However, the next night, many tugs also see the ghost tugs roam the Port. And some of their reactions go further than a simple spook.
#10	Jinxed	David Mitton		6th June 1989
Ten Cents and Sunshine come across a ownerless tug named Boomer out at sea and bring him back to Port despite his protests. Though Ten Cents and Sunshine do everything they can to help Boomer, every job or company the tug takes on ends in serious misfortune.
#11	High Winds	Chris Tulloch		13th June 1989
In the Estuary during rough winds, Zebedee meets Johnny Cuba. Against what Captain Zero would want him to do, he tows the former ally to a hiding place and is threatened into doing work for him.
#12	Up River	David Mitton		20th June 1989
Sunshine gets trapped in a log jam and the logs catch fire. Big Mac doesn’t know how to both save Sunshine and make sure the dangerously huge pile of logs aren’t sent floating down the river destroying everything in their path.
#13	Bigg Freeze	Roy Russell	David Mitton	27th June 1989
With no chance of bringing an ocean liner into Bigg City Port due to the freeze up, the Star Tugs and Z-Stacks are tasked with supplying and unloading her out at sea (as far as Lillie Lightship). Limited supplies brings problems (especially if the rivals are competing for them)! Some last-minute plans move the job forward, others move it backwards…

Cancelled Episodes

Title	Image	Writer	Notes
Harbour Life	N/A	N/A	Replaced with Pirate.
The Star Tugs are having an eventful day, especially when they fight Zorran and Zebedee to get Ten Cents’ stolen barge back.
Hercules	N/A	N/A	Too difficult to film. Replaced with High Winds.
During rough winds, Hercules tries to bring three damaged ocean liners safely into Bigg City Port.
Night Story	N/A	N/A	Scrapped after scripting.
Various events happen while the tugs work throughout the night.
Rebuild	N/A	N/A	Scrapped during scripting Possibly merged with Warrior.
The tugs work on rebuilding the docks after the events of Munitions.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase
Fog and flood upriver leads to one or few tugs almost getting shot at, going over a levee and ending up at a farm.
Strike!	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase
The tugs willingly work during a strike.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase
When Captain Star goes bankrupt, his tugs do all the big and small jobs. Common sense and clever business practises save him from a crisis and Ten Cents from being sold.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase
Delta Queen tells an amazing tale of Shanghai.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase
The fuel for the ferries has gotten soaked during the night, making them suspect sabotage in the morning. Because the ferries are out of action, the passengers complain about needing to get across the bay. A passing Ten Cents sees the commotion and chaos. He tells the ferries to load up with passengers and tie up to each other. He then gets Big Mac, and the two tugs spend the day towing ferries to their terminals. That evening, the passengers cheer for them, and the ferries share their pay with them.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase.
O.J. and a sulky Warrior witness Lillie Lightship’s light suddenly go out. O.J. looks to find that Lillie is gone from her anchorage and tries to follow a trace of oil. Later, the Harbour Patrol is notified that Lillie is being held by a group of Malcontents until their demands for changes in the harbour are met. During work, the Star Tugs piece together where Lillie is being held. And in a well-planned raid, they get Lillie back and return her to her spot. Then, with the Z Stacks and Lillie’s light, they arrest the lightship’s kidnappers.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Scrapped in Early Phase
The British War Fleet (warships being Hood, Repulse and Revown, plus all their support ships) arrives in the bay and is the largest fleet to ever enter it.

Gallery

1988 Intro

1989 Intro

Outro

EPISODES