In　this　paper,　Neural　Networks　(NNs)　are　used　in　the　modeling　of　ship　maneuvering　motion.　A　nonlinear　response　model　and　a　linear　hydrodynamic　model　of　ship　maneuvering　motion　are　also　investigated.　The　maneuverability　indices　and　linear　non-dimensional　hydrodynamic　derivatives　in　the　models　are　identified　by　using　two-layer　feed　forward　NNs.　The　stability　of　parametric　estimation　is　confirmed.　Then,　the　ship　maneuvering　motion　is　predicted　based　on　the　obtained　models.　A　comparison　between　the　predicted　results　and　the　model　test　results　demonstrates　the　validity　of　the　proposed　modeling　method.　©　2016,　Harbin　Engineering　University　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.