"screw" vessels. The "screw" vessels were superseded by turbine steamers, the first being the 1905 . The company then replaced the passenger-only steamers with side-loading car ferries, the first diesel car ferry being the 1972 (V). Fastcraft then became the next generation of vessels to operate for the company, the first being the SeaCat Isle of Man. Pre-war steamers The company built five steamers over ten years from 1927. They were the replacements for the various second-hand steamers that the company purchased to replace its First World War losses. The "Six Sisters" A class of vessel derived from pre-war steamers Fenella and Tynwald affectionately known as the Six Sisters. These were all built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead and were in service between 1946 and 1982. They operated from Douglas to various ports. No two vessels were identical and all had their own (albeit minor) differences. The last vessel to be withdrawn was Manxman in 1982. At the time it was the last vessel of its type in service in the British Isles. Despite preservation attempts the vessel was finally scrapped in 2012. Side-loading car ferries The company developed a design of side-loading car ferries, with a spiral ramp at the stern. These could operate (as car ferries) from ports which were not equipped with linkspans. This design is still unique to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company today. They operated from Douglas to various ports. Roll-on/roll-off ferries The company has operated a number of roll-on/roll-off passenger and freight ferries in its history, the pioneering vessel being the Peveril [IV] in 1981, in response to Manx Line's Manx Viking. Fastcraft The company has operated fastcraft since 1993. See also References Notes Bibliography External links Marine Accident Investigation Branch: report into the Sea Express 1 & Alaska Rainbow collision (September 2007) Picture postcards of Steam Packet vessels from 1830 to the present day Facebook Twitter Ferry companies of the Isle of Man Government-owned companies of the Isle of Man Shipping companies of the Isle of Man British companies established in 1830 Packet (sea transport) 1830 establishments in the Isle of Man Transport companies established in 1830 History of Liverpool Transport in Liverpool