Print, Photographic

Black and white photo of United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold taking a photo of salvage operations to clear the blockade of the Suez Canal, on March 25, 1957. Under-Secretary for Special Political Affairs Ralph J. Bunche stands to the left of Hammarskjold. A caption is typewritten on the verso:

(SG2:TRIP:57*)
Salvage Work in the Suez Canal
UN 56170 Egypt 25 March 1957
This picture is part of a series taken during the salvage operations in the Suez Canal, which has been shut down since hostilities began in Egypt late in October 1956. The United Nations salvage fleet, consisting of Dutch, Danish, Belgian, Swedish, German, Italian, and Yugoslav ships, began its clearance operations on 27 December 1956. The 479-member crew, with French and United Kingdom units also participating, included 45 divers. According to the estimate of Lt. General Raymond A. Wheeler (US), Special Assistant of the UN Secretary-General in Canal clearance operations, the Canal and its approaches should be cleared of all sunken vessels and other obstructions by May of this year.
Here, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (taking a photograph), and Under-Secretary Ralph J. Bunche (at left of Mr. Hammarskjold) are watching the lifting of the 1,390 ton sunken tug "EDGAR BONNET", one of the most difficult obstructions in the canal. Mr. Hammarskjold visited the salvage operations during a six-day visit to Egypt. The "BONNET" blocked the canal near Iamailia.