This new commission, chaired by Jia Yonggang, has just started its work by organising a seminar on, “Developing strategy of marine engineering geology” at the Ocean University of China, Qingdao (2012). The seminar was co-hosted by the Earth Science Division of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The seminar focused on the key issues related to further development, discipline and training in the field of marine engineering geology. The Chinese attendees presented the latest advances and research results on marine engineering geology science and proposed the likely future development of the subject over the next 5 to 10 years, thus providing an opportunity for potential research projects through the commission.