Abstract: A fuel pin transfer tool has a tubular housing of sufficient length to enable it to be suspended in a body of water in which a fuel pin assembly is submerged with the upper end of the housing above the water and with the tool in vertical alignment with a selected fuel pin from which the lower end of the tool is closely spaced. The housing has a cylinder spaced from its ends in which there is a piston having a tubular piston rod extending slidably through both ends of the cylinder. An actuator, the control for which has first and second positions, is fixed on the upper end of the piston rod and has a member extending freely downwardly therethrough which on short downward travel, resulting when the control is in its second position, effects the pin-releasing position of a latching device secured to the lower end of the piston rod.