Bigg City Port
Encyclopedia
Bigg City Port is a fictional harbour
the setting of the 1988 children's television series
TUGS
. The port is home to two tugboat
fleets around which the series centres, the Star Tugs and The Z Stacks. It is unknown whether or not the port is named after a larger area surrounding it named Bigg City, or if Bigg City is the name of the port itself.
In TUGS fictional universe
, Bigg City Port is "the biggest harbour in the world" in the 1920s
, the era in which the series is set. Bigg City's main import and export of goods comes from the ocean liner vessels in the series, who use the port as a dock
. The area includes various facilities necessary to the port itself (such as coal and oil depots, repair yards and the municipal dump), and a number of factories and warehouses are also located there. Tramp steamer
s, car float
s, fishing vessel
s and barge
s of all kinds frequently are seen passing through. The port also contains several old and abandoned areas, one of which were used during the series by criminals as a hideout. A number of locations just outside the port briefly appear in the series as well, such as Upriver and Dem Der Rocks (see below).
A basic map of part of the port was produced for the Tugs board game
.
In the American
spin-off
of TUGS
, Salty's Lighthouse
, Bigg City Port was re-named Snugboat Harbour.
s, Captain Star and Captain Zero. Over both docks spans a large suspension bridge
, similar to that of New York
's Brooklyn Bridge
.Lucky's Yard: Used to carry out repairs and maintenance on ships and other vessels which pass through Bigg City. The Star Fleet used Lucky's Yard for supplies of timber, as well as repairs to Lillie Lightship and OJ. The seaplane
hangar, where Sally Seaplane lives, is located next door.
Municipal Garbage Corporation: Where waste products of the ocean liner vessels are taken, before being later disposed of elsewhere. Warrior, and less frequently Top Hat, Sunshine are usually seen completing this job. The Corporation is home to Lord Stinker, a garbage barge
used to dispose of rubbish, and Jack the Grappler, a crane used for transporting rubbish to barges.
Liner dock: The tugs are often seen docking ocean liner
s in Bigg City's main dock. Both tug fleets are frequently competing for contracts from liners to bring them into port. The Princess Alice is frequently seen in the background of most scenes at the dock, although plenty of other liners pass through as well. In "Bigg Freeze", the main liner dock freezes up due to bad weather, and the dock is replaced with a temporary one further out at sea.
, is also anchored there. In "Quarantine", all ships waiting for medical inspection are quarantine
d in the estuary. Also, in "Jinxed", Ten Cents and Sunshine first come across the jinxed tug Boomer in the estuary.
In "Bigg Freeze", both Tug Fleets set up a temporary replacement port in the estuary, due to bad weather conditions in Bigg City. Captain Star sets up base in a small port, and the tugs perform a successful turnaround of the S.S.Vienna.
, comes from up river also and knows Sunshine from there.
There are major timber
and logging
industries up river, both of which are contracted out to the tugs on different occasions. There is also a ship's graveyard, which is mentioned but never seen. When Boomer was refurbished into a houseboat, he is moored up river.
accents, yet the port itself appears to be set in the United States
. The liner characters also have American-styled funnel
s. Emphasising this, the port holds an annual regatta for the July 4th
celebrations, as shown in the episode "4th of July".
, and in many ways Bigg City resembles those locations. The architecture
, with its mix of modern (for the 1920s) skyscraper
s and more 18th and 19th century buildings is very reminiscent of both cities, as the large suspension bridge that crosses the harbour (as observed above, this is probably based on the Brooklyn
and Golden Gate Bridge
s).
The series drew on the noir
and crime genre
s for its stories and atmosphere, and Tugs crew member Chris Tulloch
cited the 1954 film On the Waterfront
as another inspiration in terms of the atmosphere the producers were trying to create.
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
the setting of the 1988 children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
TUGS
TUGS
TUGS is a British children's television series, first broadcast in 1988. It was created by the producers of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Robert D. Cardona and David Mitton. The series dealt with the adventures of two anthropomorphized tugboat fleets, the Star Fleet and the Z-Stacks, who...
. The port is home to two tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
fleets around which the series centres, the Star Tugs and The Z Stacks. It is unknown whether or not the port is named after a larger area surrounding it named Bigg City, or if Bigg City is the name of the port itself.
In TUGS fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, Bigg City Port is "the biggest harbour in the world" in the 1920s
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
, the era in which the series is set. Bigg City's main import and export of goods comes from the ocean liner vessels in the series, who use the port as a dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
. The area includes various facilities necessary to the port itself (such as coal and oil depots, repair yards and the municipal dump), and a number of factories and warehouses are also located there. Tramp steamer
Tramp steamer
A ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call. As opposed to freight liners, tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed schedule or itinerary/ports-of-call...
s, car float
Car float
A railroad car float or rail barge is an unpowered barge with rail tracks mounted on its deck. It is used to move railroad cars across water obstacles, or to locations they could not otherwise go, and is pushed by a towboat or towed by a tugboat...
s, fishing vessel
Fishing vessel
A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing....
s and barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s of all kinds frequently are seen passing through. The port also contains several old and abandoned areas, one of which were used during the series by criminals as a hideout. A number of locations just outside the port briefly appear in the series as well, such as Upriver and Dem Der Rocks (see below).
A basic map of part of the port was produced for the Tugs board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
.
In the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
of TUGS
TUGS
TUGS is a British children's television series, first broadcast in 1988. It was created by the producers of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Robert D. Cardona and David Mitton. The series dealt with the adventures of two anthropomorphized tugboat fleets, the Star Fleet and the Z-Stacks, who...
, Salty's Lighthouse
Salty's Lighthouse
Salty's Lighthouse was a series for young children, produced by Sunbow Entertainment in 1997 in association with the Bank Street College of Education in New York. The show centred around a young boy named Salty, as he plays and learns with his friends in a magical lighthouse...
, Bigg City Port was re-named Snugboat Harbour.
Locations in the Port
There are a number of locations in Bigg City Port which frequently appeared in the series:Main locations
- Star Tug and Marine
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
s, Captain Star and Captain Zero. Over both docks spans a large suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
, similar to that of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
.
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
hangar, where Sally Seaplane lives, is located next door.
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
used to dispose of rubbish, and Jack the Grappler, a crane used for transporting rubbish to barges.
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
s in Bigg City's main dock. Both tug fleets are frequently competing for contracts from liners to bring them into port. The Princess Alice is frequently seen in the background of most scenes at the dock, although plenty of other liners pass through as well. In "Bigg Freeze", the main liner dock freezes up due to bad weather, and the dock is replaced with a temporary one further out at sea.
Other locations
- Big Boulder Rock Co.: In "Warrior", the rock company are contracted out to the Star Fleet and the Z Stacks to supply stone for the construction of the new port.
- Fire station: The home of the Fire Tug. The fire station is used to supply fire barges which project water in case of fire. The fire barges were first used in "Munitions", during the dockside fire. A barge was also stolen by Zip and Zug, who were later forced to return it.
- Ferry dock: Seen in the episode 'Quarantine', as well as in the background of other episodes, the Ferry dock is the home to The Fultan Ferry. It was here in "Quarantine" that the ferry itself once sunk due to a collision with OJ, who was experiencing engine difficulties. The ferry was later refloated.
- The canal: A shortcut through Bigg City sometimes used by the tugs. It has numerous bridges passing over it. The Star Fleet have been ill-advised by Captain Star to not use the canal during Naval inspections. In "High Tide", a bridge spanning the canal collapsed after colliding with a large rig pulled by Zebedee. It was contracted to the Steel Company to be repaired, and completed by the following episode.
- Coal yard: A dirty place full of coal barges. According to Captain Star, coal was the main import and export of Bigg City Port, and without it, industry would grind to a halt. It is visible from the Star and Zero docks.
- Steel yard: Home to the Steel Company and shore craneCrane (machine)A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
, Big Mickey. In "High Tide", it is seen transporting its base across the harbour with the help of Big Mac, Warrior, Zebedee and Zak. This quay was also used by the NavyNavyA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
for loading explosives on to tramper Kraka Toa in "Munitions". - Old dock: There are several abandoned docks seen and mentioned in the series. In "Warrior", some of the older docks are being rebuilt, while in "High Winds" and "Pirate", criminals used the abandoned docks as a hideout.
- Melon Produce Co.: A warehouse with a quayside, seen flooded in the episode "High Tide".
- Munitions factory: Seen in the episode "Munitions", the Munitions factory is prone to frequent accidents involving exploding barges, shown in "Jinxed" and, more notably, "Munitions". Both tug fleets are willing to contract with the Munitions factory, as the financial rewards for carrying the dangerous explosives could be worth the risk.
- Crane inlet: Appearing briefly in the "Ghosts" as a shortcut for OJ, a number of old cranes are kept here, including Scuttlebutt Pete.
- Bridge Café: A bar with a famous jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band, which is often called upon to play at special occasions. They appear as a float in "4th of July", and the celebratory entertainment for a successful docking of the Princess Alice. Grampus' dock is next to the Bridge Café as noted in "Pirate".
Locations outside the port
There are a number of locations outside of Bigg City Port itself which still appear in the series:The estuary
The area between the open seas and Bigg City, The estuary is the point which ships come in and out of the port. Lillie Lightship is moored here, guarding vessels against running aground on Dem Der Rocks, as well as acting as a beacon for ocean liners. Old Rusty, an elderly tramp steamerTramp steamer
A ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call. As opposed to freight liners, tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed schedule or itinerary/ports-of-call...
, is also anchored there. In "Quarantine", all ships waiting for medical inspection are quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
d in the estuary. Also, in "Jinxed", Ten Cents and Sunshine first come across the jinxed tug Boomer in the estuary.
In "Bigg Freeze", both Tug Fleets set up a temporary replacement port in the estuary, due to bad weather conditions in Bigg City. Captain Star sets up base in a small port, and the tugs perform a successful turnaround of the S.S.Vienna.
Up river
Up river is home to a number of characters in the TUGS series. Sunshine, brought in by Captain Star to help Ten Cents, originally came from up river. Sea Rogue and Sea Rogue's Uncle reveal in "Pirate" that they come from up river. Billy Shoepack, the "alligator tug" and fan of explosivesExplosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
, comes from up river also and knows Sunshine from there.
There are major timber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
industries up river, both of which are contracted out to the tugs on different occasions. There is also a ship's graveyard, which is mentioned but never seen. When Boomer was refurbished into a houseboat, he is moored up river.
Location
It was never made explicitly clear where Bigg City Port actually was. Some of the confusion arises from the fact that, with a few exceptions, the characters have BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
accents, yet the port itself appears to be set in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The liner characters also have American-styled funnel
Funnel
A funnel is a pipe with a wide, often conical mouth and a narrow stem. It is used to channel liquid or fine-grained substances into containers with a small opening. Without a funnel, spillage would occur....
s. Emphasising this, the port holds an annual regatta for the July 4th
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebrations, as shown in the episode "4th of July".
Inspiration
The producers were primarily inspired by San Francisco and New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and in many ways Bigg City resembles those locations. The architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, with its mix of modern (for the 1920s) skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
s and more 18th and 19th century buildings is very reminiscent of both cities, as the large suspension bridge that crosses the harbour (as observed above, this is probably based on the Brooklyn
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
and Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
s).
The series drew on the noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
and crime genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s for its stories and atmosphere, and Tugs crew member Chris Tulloch
Chris Tulloch
Chris Tulloch is a British animator, who has worked on children's series such as TUGS, Salty's Lighthouse and Dream Street.He is best known for voicing the crucial antagonist part of Zorran in TUGS and directed four of the thirteen episodes that currently exist today.He currently collaborates with...
cited the 1954 film On the Waterfront
On the Waterfront
On the Waterfront is a 1954 American drama film about union violence and corruption among longshoremen. The film was directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. It stars Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb and Karl Malden. The soundtrack score was composed by Leonard...
as another inspiration in terms of the atmosphere the producers were trying to create.