the end piece 12 is maneuvered into a position such that the central axis c of a tubular end portion 42 of the end piece 12 is substantially aligned with the central axis r of a tubular portion 44 of the connector 11 the tubular portion 44 of the connector 11 fits coaxially around the tubular portion 42 of the end piece 12 the connector 11 is also provided with a funnel shaped lead in piece 45 through which the tubular portion 42 of the end piece 12 is slid in the following phase of the coupling procedure in which the end piece 12 is pulled to the connector 11 by retraction of the cylinders 36a and 37a the lead in piece 45 has an axial slit 46 in it and in the prolongation of the side walls of the slit 46 a set of guide members 47 are welded to the connector 11 during the retraction of the cylinders 36a and 37a the drawing eye 20 welded to the end piece 12 is led along the guide members 47 into the slit 46 so that the tubular end portion 42 of the end piece 12 is slid in a pre determined orientation into the tubular portion 44 of the connector 11 fig vi shows the submersible device 30 after it has been employed to slide the tubular end portion 42 of the end piece 12 into the tubular portion 44 of the connector 11 it can be seen in fig vi that the central axis c of the tubular end portion 42 of the end piece 12 is tangential to the catenary 21.