Abstract: Status examination and detection is a basic work with relatively large costs in safety authentication of sea dike. In order to meet the needs and effectively reduce costs, based on the technical standards of relevant industries and the practical experience, this paper studies the current situation detection items in Shanghai sea dike safety appraisal, including appearance quality examination, material detection, measurement, hidden danger detection, geological survey, underground pipeline detection, etc. It is proposed that the appearance quality examination should be comprehensive, the material detection should be aimed at the key parts of concrete, the measurement should include topographic measurement and section measurement, the hidden danger detection should be aimed at the weak or doubtful parts of quality, and the existing data should be fully utilized in geological investigations and underground utilities investigations. The results have been well applied in practical work in recent years.