page_title: SS Nezhin
section_title: Voyages to Egypt and Syria
hierarchical_section_title: SS Nezhin / History / Voyages to Egypt and Syria
caption_attribution_description: English: Two crew members of the Soviet ship Nezhin stoker Nikolay and electrician Shumilov and Syrians on board of this ship in Syria. Photo maden between June 1956 and 1957.
context_page_description: Nezhin, was a merchant steam ship of Black Sea Shipping Company from July 1954 to 1965 and of Azov Sea Shipping Company from 1965 to 1978, tweendecker type general cargo ship. It was one of the Kolomna-class cargo ships, project 233. The ship was named in honor of Nizhyn, Ukraine.
context_section_description: The Soviet Union first time offered politically and economic assistance to Syria in 1955 in case Syria had been refusing to join the Baghdad Pact (CENTO). Baghdad Pact was created as per initiative of the US, UK and Turkey military Association, including Iraq, Iran and Pakistan, whose main purpose was to fight against "Communist aggression".
  Soviet Foreign Minister Shepilov Dmitry Trofimovich visited Syria in June 1956. He offered that in addition to political and economic assistance can be military assistance from the Soviet Union to the young Syrian state. In 1956 the first 60 specialists were sent to Syria, and began delivery weapons (from the fighter planes and tanks to ammunition) from Czechoslovakia with a total value of $18 million. At the end of the year, the Soviet Union and Syria signed first direct agreement on deliveries of weapons, jet aircraft and anti-aircraft guns, and also about the training of Syrian military personnel. At the same time, the countries of the Baghdad Pact organized economic pressure on Syria, including a boycott of Syrian goods.
  After voyage Soviet Union-Egypt-Soviet Union in May–June 1956, ship Nezhin passed to discharge cargo in Syria in summer 1956.
  On 26 July 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser gave a speech in Alexandria announcing the nationalization of the Suez Canal Company, owned by the French and the British, as a means to fund the Aswan Dam project in light of the British–American withdrawal (Withdrawal was completed on 18 July 1956).
  The nationalization of the channel led to the invasion of the British, French and Israeli troops and the beginning of the Suez campaign (October 1956 - March 1957). The channel was partially destroyed, part of the ships were sunk. Shipping was closed until 10 April 1957, when Suez Canal was cleared with the help of UN forces.
  The Nezhin often visited Syria and Egypt after 1956 also. Cargo for discharge in these countries was loaded in the Soviet Union.
caption: Stoker Nikolay, electrician Shumilov (his eyes are closed) and Syrian stevedores on board of the ship Nezhin in Syria, between July 1956 and April 1957.
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