Salty's Lighthouse is an animated television series for preschoolers, produced by Sunbow Entertainment in association with the Bank Street College of Education in New York.

Debuting in syndication in late 1997,[1] and picked up by Discovery Communications for U.S. broadcast that December,[2] it aired from March 30[3] to June 26, 1998[citation needed] on TLC's Ready Set Learn!

[7] In 2005, Metrodome Distribution (a distributor owned by Sunbow's then-parent TV-Loonland AG) released a compilation VHS/DVD called "Toddler Time!

Whilst Allcroft drove the Thomas series to popularity among U.S. audiences (through the PBS series Shining Time Station), Tugs did not spread far beyond its country of origin, lasting one season of 13 episodes due to the bankruptcy of its distributor, TVS Television (although it was aired and merchandised in the Japanese and Australian markets).

The original episodes of Tugs centered on two rival fleets of tugboats, working in 'Bigg City Port' during the 1920s, with its plotlines involving action and drama intended for an older audience of children.

The characters of Sunshine, Captain Star (the narrator), and Little Ditcher were made female, presumably to appeal to a wider audience of children.

", and one of the Pirates was shown in the place of Sea Rogue when he covered Lillie Lightship and a bell buoy with a blanket in the episode "Dream On").