The aim of this review series is to present critical commentaries on knowledge in the field of coastal and ocean engineering. The first volume of the series is a collection of five papers reviewing a wide range of research topics in coastal engineering. The first paper discusses one of the fundamental issues concerning many fluid flow problems, namely, free surface boundary conditions. In the second paper, a survey on seafloor dynamics is presented; this reviews recent studies on the nonlinear wave energy transfer into the seabed and different modes of wave-induced sediment fluidization processes in cohesive as well as noncohesive seabeds. Several issues concerning the interactions between sediment deposit and marine structures, such as pipeline and breakwater, are also briefly reviewed. One of the active research areas in modelling wave propagation is the construction of a unified model which is valid from deep water to shallow water; the third paper discusses several existing models. The last paper presents a review of the design considerations for a rubble mound breakwater. Both hydraulic and structural responses are discused, and design formulae and graphs are presented, which can be used for a conceptual design of rubble mound breakwaters.