being the first to leave Dover and the first to complete the round trip during the evacuation. Eight company ships took part in this mission, rescuing a total of 24,699 British troops – one in fourteen of those evacuated from Dunkirk. However this was also the company's blackest day, as three of the line's ships were lost: , mined off Dunkirk on 29 May; , sunk by air attack whilst berthed alongside Dunkirk's East Pier on 29 May; , sustained heavy damage following several air attacks on 29 May, and sank off the beaches in the early hours of 30 May. The anchor from (III) was raised as part of the 70th anniversary commemoration of Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk. It is sited at Kallow Point in Port St Mary as a memorial to the company's crew who took part in the war. Post-war service Four side-loading roll-on/roll-off car ferries were introduced, beginning with in 1962, and followed by (1966), (1972) and (1976). Mona's Isle (VI) was the Steam Packet Company's first stern loader in 1984–85. The 1980s were tough times for the company, with declining passenger numbers. Strong competition from Manx Line's brought them close to collapse. In February 1985, they announced a merger with Sealink who had, by now, taken over Manx Line. The main UK port switched from Liverpool to Heysham, thus ending (albeit temporarily as it turned out) an association lasting back to the company's origins. In 1996, the Steam Packet Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sea Containers headed by James Sherwood, who had pioneered the fast-craft operation. In July 2003, the company was sold for £142 million to Montagu Private Equity. In 2005, the company was purchased by Macquarie Bank for £225 million. On 3 February 2007, Sea Express 1 (formerly SeaCat Isle of Man) collided with the cargo ship Alaska Rainbow in heavy fog in the River Mersey. None of the 294 passengers and crew was hurt, and the ferry was moored at Liverpool Pier Head while water was being pumped from the engine room, a number of cars remained on board. She was later towed to the Cammell Laird basin in Birkenhead where all cars remaining aboard were offloaded. On 14 March 2007, the Sea Express 1 was relaunched. In the meantime alternative service was provided by Ben-my-Chree to Birkenhead during the weekends. In December 2007, the vessel was renamed to become