Connector (12) for releasably attaching two hydrocarbon ducts, the connector comprising first and second connector members (7,8), each connector member (7,8) having a housing (18,19) with a fluid passage (40,41), a valve (42, 43) rotatably seated in the passage for closing off the fluid passage, drive members (21,22) attached to a respective valve (42,43) situated at an outer surface of the housing for rotation of the valves between an open state and a closed state, each drive member (21,22) comprising a displacement device (50,51) movable in an axial direction (A) of the housing (18,19) and a first and second force element (53,54, 55) coupled to a respective displacement device (50,51), wherein in the coupled state of the connector members (7,8), the displacement device (51) of the second drive member (22) engages with the displacement device (50) of the first drive member (21) to place the first and second drive members (21,22) in an axial opening position in which the valves (42,43) are opened and the force elements (53,54) are in a compressed state, and wherein upon axial retraction of the second displacement device (51) away from the first connector member (8), the first and second displacement devices (50,51) are movable by expansion of the force elements (53,54) to an axial closure position in which the valves are closed.