Moring cleat

An automatically and remotely operable retractable mooring cleat. The retractable cleat is mountable in a surface, such as the deck (80), of a marine vessel. A source of motive energy forms part of an actuation mechanism energisable by a user to extend or retract cleat members (1,2) from the surface. The cleat members (1,2) each travel along diverging paths as they extend and travel along the same respective paths as they are retracted. The cleat is thereby able to extricate itself from an attached mooring line as it retracts. Multiple retractable cleats may be positioned about a marine vessel, each of which is operable remotely to extend or retract. Single-handed launching of a moored vessel is therefore possible.