An electro-permanent magnet (EPM) for an electromagnetic mooring system (EMS) includes a low coercivity magnet surrounded by a reversible coil, and one or more high coercivity magnets surrounding the low coercivity magnet and the reversible coil. The reversible coil switches polarity of the low coercivity magnet to null the stronger, one or more high coercivity magnets. The nulling of the stronger, one or more high coercivity magnets allows for the EMS to connect and disconnect to an adjacent apparatus.