Broken Chinese Finger
- Safety Flash
- Published on 14 July 2022
- Generated on 18 September 2025
- IMCA SF 17/22
- 1 minute read
Chinese Finger broke, resulting in the auxiliary hoist wire falling down into the cargo hold.
What happened
During a reeving operation of the forward crane auxiliary hoist, there was a failure of a “Chinese Finger” between the messenger wire and auxiliary hoist wire. About 6m before reaching the trolley sheave, the Chinese Finger broke, resulting in the auxiliary hoist wire falling down into the cargo hold. The messenger wire fell on the main deck below the crane trolley.
Photos
Broken messenger & auxiliary hoist wire
Close-up of broken Chinese Finger
What went right?
No-one was nearby where anything landed. There were no injuries.
What went wrong?
- The Chinese Finger parted due to direct contact between the sharp edge of the Auxiliary Hoist Wire and the Chinese Finger itself.
- The Chinese Finger could not withstand the applied tension endured during the reeving works.
- The point of contact between the Auxiliary hoist wire and Chinese Finger was too sharp resulting in a point load.
- The Auxiliary hoist dead-end was not tapered and by this created a sharp edge at the extreme end of the wire.
- There was a lack of awareness of this aspect of the use of the Chinese Finger.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 07/21
4 March 2021
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IMCA SF 05/21
11 February 2021
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IMCA SF 12/01
2 October 2001
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