Due　to　the　excellent　durable　properties,　alkali-activated　materials　(AAMs)　are　generally　taken　into　account　to　utilize　in　the　harsh　marine　environments　to　resist　the　chloride　transport　and　sulfate　attack.　Moreover,　aggressive　ions-containing　seawater　and/or　sea　sand　are　tried　to　substitute　freshwater　and　river　sand　as　mixing　water　and　fine　aggregates　to　prepare　AAMs,　in　the　light　of　superior　chloride　binding　capacities　of　matrices　and　exceptional　resistance　to　sulfate　attack.　This　paper　attempts　to　review　the　recent　investigations　focusing　on　the　effect　of　aggressive　seawater　ions　primarily　including　chloride　and　sulfate　ions　on　the　macroscopic　properties,　phase　assemblages,　and　microstructures　of　AAMs,　and　the　transformation　of　AAMs　induced　by　the　immersion　in　aggressive　seawater.　Furthermore,　existing　studies　on　the　fresh　and　hardened　properties　of　AAMs　fabricated　using　seawater　and　sea　sand　are　also　overviewed　in　detail.　However,　the　challenges　faced　regarding　the　AAMs　used　as　marine　engineering　materials　remain　severe,　and　the　relevant　research　gaps　are　urgently　required　to　be　bridged.　The　perspectives　proposed　in　this　paper　may　show　profound　insight　for　the　future　studies　to　explore　the　application　of　AAMs　in　marine　engineering.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd