A remote and fast-acting fastening and release device comprising:
- a hook suitable for engaging a mooring part on which the device must be capable of fastening and from which it must be capable of releasing;
- a traction ring receiving a link element on which a traction force may be exerted in a traction direction, said hook being mounted to move about an axis perpendicular to the traction direction between an open position and a fastening position, and the axis being located at one end of a carrier element that carries the traction ring at its opposite end, the hook including a curved main body first end of which is closed, in the fastening position, by a tilting element, and a second end of which is situated adjacent to the carrier element in the fastening position, the curvature of the main body being such that in the fastening position, the force exerted by the mooring part on the hook in reaction to the traction force tends to open the hook by causing it to tilt about the axis, to move its second end away from the carrier element, which second end, in the fastening position is held by an abutment of a moving locking means generally stationary relative to the carrier element, which abutment in the fastening position exerts on the second end a force, having a moment about a locking means axis which compensates the moment of the reaction force from the mooring part, such that the hook while in the fastening position is held generally stationary against rotation, wherein the second end of said hook cooperates with the abutment in a manner such that when the abutment in the fastening position is activated by the moving means in the traction force direction, the abutment must urge the second end of the hook towards the carrier element in order to allow said second end to disengage and to allow the hook to tilt towards its open position, and wherein, when the device is in the fastening position, said second end of the hook is at a distance "e" from the carrier element, such that it is possible for the hook to move towards the carrier element and such that, so long as the moving means is not actuated such movement is not possible and said abutment is prevented from disengaging and wherein the moving locking means is hinged beneath the traction ring and includes the abutment that comes to bear against the end of the hook which it secures in a locking position, and disposed on the same side of the central body of the carrier element as said hook, which moving means includes a clevis secured to said abutment and itself coming to bear against a part of the carrier element.