Various cases containing face-masks and buoys for TUGS characters was put up for auction on eBay in mid 2012. Soon after in December of that year pictures of the model props for the face-masks were posted by the owner on this Wiki and equally were also placed for sale. However, the owner of the models agreed to trade to members of the Sodor Island Fansite (commonly known and short for SiF) so that they would be in safe hands and with suitable owners. The official handover of the models was in January 2013, and four months later on May 7th, The Star Tugs Trust was officially launched. Plans and intentions for the models' well-being and the trust's aims were thoroughly discussed, and the original name 'The Star Tugs Trust' was changed to 'The Star Tugs Company Ltd.' due to copyright reasons.