Based on a specific example of project, this paper discusses the innovations on island-type breakwater arrangement for shielding a 300 000 DWT crude oil berth, island-type breakwater layout and elevation combining with the terminal operation standards, the natural conditions (especially the wave conditions) and the physical model testing methods during the design, and provides a practical and actionable engineering experience on large shield terminal layout design at an open and deep sea area with unfavorable wave conditions.