201643 Improvised monkey’s fist throws a dangerous punch

The vessel was approaching port under pilotage and the crew had to send a heaving line to a tug. Unknown to the tug crew, the heaving line had a large steel shackle attached to the end as a weight.

Luckily none of the tug crew was hit when the line was thrown some 10 metres down to the tug.

Lessons learned
- Attaching weights to a heaving line in lieu of a proper monkey’s fist or even a weight concealed within the monkey’s fist is improper seamanship and could be very dangerous.

Editor’s note: General guidance exists to this effect, such as the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency publication Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers, 2015 edition. Section 26.3.5 of this publication states: “To prevent personal injury to those receiving heaving lines, the monkey’s fist should be made with rope only and must not contain added weighting material. Safe alternatives include a small high-visibility soft pouch, filled with fast-draining pea shingle or similar, with a weight of not more than 0.5 kg. Under no circumstances is a line to be weighted by items such as shackles, bolts or nuts, or twist locks.”
 

 

 

 

 

 

Proper monkey’s fist or alternative pea-shingle pouch