The recommendations have been completely restructured in this 12th (2020) edition of the "EAU" which is the 10th English edition. The aim was to provide readers with a better, clearer arrangement of the chapters. In addition, the information published in the annual technical reports of the "Waterfront Structures Committee" since the publication of the 11th German edition have been incorporated in this new edition.

The recommendations also take into account the current generation of standards consisting of Eurocode 7, the associated National Application Documents and supplementary national publications (DIN 1054:2010). In isolated instances, partial safety factors differing from those in the codes are specified on the basis of practical experience. Safety standards for ports, harbours and marine structures are therefore upheld. The recommendations satisfy the need for international acceptance in the planning, design, tendering, award of contract, construction, site supervision, acceptance and settlement of accounts for port, harbour and waterway facilities based on uniform approaches.