Combining with the national “Quality Engineering” and “Excellence Initiative”, this paper studies the cultivation mode of engineering applied talents for Port, Waterway and Coastal Engineering field based on the concept of characteristic specialty construction. The engineering practical ability and innovation consciousness of students are strengthened by adjusting personnel training program, reforming teaching content and methods, constructing a diversified practice teaching system, exploring the “course to fuse vocational certificate” mode, building the “double teacher” team, etc. The training mode aims to culture the high-quality engineering applied personnel to adapt to the economic and social development needs. It is proved that the training mode is operative for the engineering applied talents cultivation.