Abstract: A grapnel for recovering telecommunications cables from deep oceans has special features for treating the cable gently, cutting the cable and holding a predetermined side of it. The grapnel includes a rotor which is adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the grapnel. The rotor is located between two cutting stations and is preset for rotation in either the clockwise or the anti-clockwise direction. In operation, the rotor acquires one run of cable from below and this run of cable is held clear of both cutting stations. The rotor acquires the other run of cable from above, and this run of cable is introduced into one of the cutting stations. After winding, both cutting stations are actuated, and a predetermined run is cut. The other predetermined run is held because it is wound round the rotor and it can be retrieved to the surface.