The 4th International Conference on the application of physical modelling to port and coastal protection. Coastlab12 offers the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in physical modelling in the field of coastal and harbour engineering! The conference traditionally serves the Coastlab network for small and medium coastal engineering laboratories, exchanging information about instrumentation, equipment and field campaign techniques. Coastlab12 is organized under the auspices of the International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR).