Wire rope used for ship hoisting broken during service,causes of wire rope fracture were analyzed.Results show that outer layer of broken wire rope is seriously worn and extruded during service,and some steel wires surface is quenched and burned,which makes steel wire embrittle.Microcracks occur on outer steel wire surface under harsh working conditions such as bending,torsion,and extrusion during service process,and crack propagation leads to fatigue fracture of outer steel wire.After steel wire damaged,effective cross-section of wire rope is reduced,bearing capacity is reduced,and then over-load fracture of inner steel wire occurs,which eventually leads to overall fracture of wire rope.