An electromagnetically actuated, bistable locking device comprising: - a lock pin that is moveable substantially along a longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position, - at least two permanent magnets, each with two pole ends, said at least two permanent magnets mounted for rotation between a first magnetic orientation associated with an extended position of the lock pin and a second magnetic orientation associated with a retracted position of the lock pin, - at least two electromagnets, each having first and second ends and electromagnetically actuated in one of said extended and retracted positions of the lock pin to provide a first orientation of magnetic field, and in the other of said extended and retracted positions of the lock pin to provide a second orientation of magnetic field, said second orientation of magnetic field being substantially the reverse of the first orientation of the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic cores of the electromagnets are fixed within the device; - a mechanical interconnection between the lock pin and the at least two permanent magnets for moving said lock pin between the extended and the retracted positions of the lock pin at the actuation of the electromagnets, and - wherein each of the at least two permanent magnets is arranged adjacent to the first end of the respective one of the at least two electromagnets, whereby the mechanical interconnection comprises: - a rotatable crank-shaft extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of the lock pin, and to which the at least two permanent magnets are rigidly mounted, said crank-shaft having at least one eccentric section to which the lock pin is pivotably coupled, and wherein the crank-shaft is movable and guided in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lock pin, and - guiding means for guiding the lock pin substantially along said longitudinal axis. - a lock pin that is moveable substantially along a longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position, - at least two permanent magnets, each with two pole ends, said at least two permanent magnets mounted for rotation between a first magnetic orientation associated with an extended position of the lock pin and a second magnetic orientation associated with a retracted position of the lock pin, - at least two electromagnets, each having first and second ends and electromagnetically actuated in one of said extended and retracted positions of the lock pin to provide a first orientation of magnetic field, and in the other of said extended and retracted positions of the lock pin to provide a second orientation of magnetic field, said second orientation of magnetic field being substantially the reverse of the first orientation of the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic cores of the electromagnets are fixed within the device; - a mechanical interconnection between the lock pin and the at least two permanent magnets for moving said lock pin between the extended and the retracted positions of the lock pin at the actuation of the electromagnets, and - wherein each of the at least two permanent magnets is arranged adjacent to the first end of the respective one of the at least two electromagnets, whereby the mechanical interconnection comprises: - a rotatable crank-shaft extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of the lock pin, and to which the at least two permanent magnets are rigidly mounted, said crank-shaft having at least one eccentric section to which the lock pin is pivotably coupled, and wherein the crank-shaft is movable and guided in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lock pin, and - guiding means for guiding the lock pin substantially along said longitudinal axis. - a rotatable crank-shaft extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of the lock pin, and to which the at least two permanent magnets are rigidly mounted, said crank-shaft having at least one eccentric section to which the lock pin is pivotably coupled, and wherein the crank-shaft is movable and guided in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lock pin, and - guiding means for guiding the lock pin substantially along said longitudinal axis.