Tangshan port Caofeidian multi-purpose wharf is the first caisson-type gravity wharf adopted in Caifeidian port area. The paper gives an application example on the use of explosive compaction method to deal with underwater ripped-rock bed-ground in Caofeidian multi-purpose wharf engineering. It also summarizes the construction method, application effect, treatment of problems, as well as matters of attention for the explosive compaction technology. Furthermore, the paper gives a technical and economic comparison between the traditional hammer ramming and this new method, so it has accumulated experience for the application of this method in similar projects in Caofeidian.