Area	Mare Ligure
Application:	Harbour Protection Trials
Mission Partner:	Italian Mine Countermeasures Forces Command (COMFORDRAG) NATO Undersea Research Center (NURC)

The NATO Harbour Protection Trials 2006 (HPT 06) took place in the La Spezia area from 03 April until 06 April 2006.

Aim:
To test and verify modern technology capability (AUVs and Integrated Underwater Surveillance Systems) in countering the terrorist threat in harbour waters and supporting operations in VSW (Very Shallow Waters).

1.To test and confirm AUVs effectiveness and capabilities in confined waters:

• To search and localize mines and UWIEDs laid/placed in harbour waters and anchoring areas 
• To survey approaches and harbours entrance (Bottom Mapping)
• To perform Harbour – Rapid Environmental Assessment (H-REA)  
   

2. To test and verify AUVs suitability in supporting VSW operations