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- Role of Unmanned Vehicles in Harbour ProtectionPublication . Candeias, António Maria de Amaral ; Martins, CFR Faias; Pires, CFR Salvado; Damas, BrunoThe increasing complexity of threats to ports and maritime infrastructure calls for innovative approaches. This dissertation examines the role of Unmanned Vehicles (UxVs) in the protection of Sines Harbour, one of Portugal’s largest deep-water ports, considering both a security role during routine port operations and a defensive role in the event of an external attack by state or non-state actors. The study begins with a review of NATO doctrine on Harbour Protection and the legal framework related to Port Security. An analysis of classification methods for all types of unmanned systems (UAVs, USVs, UUVs and UGVs) is presented, along with an assessment of their employment in recent conflicts and in leading international ports (Antwerp, Los Angeles and Haifa). The research also includes a detailed assessment of Sines Harbour, covering meteorological characteristics, security posture, criticality, threat and vulnerability assessments, complemented by expert interviews on the application of UxVs in both security and defence contexts. A tailored employment concept for UxVs in Sines is proposed, with specific operational requirements for each system type. This proposed model focuses on security applications. The results highlight the potential of UxVs to enhance the overall protection of Sines Harbour, particularly in surveillance, persistent coverage and threat response, while also identifying challenges related to interoperability and operational procedures.