Ship　manoeuvrability　has　a　close　relationship　with　navigation　safety.　For　a　ship　sailing　in　the　proximity　of　a　pier,　its　manoeuvrability　is　different　from　that　in　unrestricted　waters.　To　predict　the　ship　manoeuvrability　in　the　proximity　of　a　pier,　the　method　of　simulation　based　on　mathematical　model　is　used.　The　mathematical　model　of　ship　manoeuvring　is　obtained　by　using　Support　Vector　Machines　(SVM)　based　system　identification,　combined　with　free-running　model　tests.　The　interaction　between　the　pier　and　the　ship　are　considered　in　the　mathematical　model　of　ship　manoeuvring　motion.　By　analyzing　the　test　results,　SVM　is　applied　to　identify　the　hydrodynamic　coefficients　and　the　interaction　coefficients　in　the　mathematical　model.　By　using　the　regressive　models,　the　ship　manoeuvring　motions　in　the　proximity　of　a　pier　are　predicted.　Comparisons　between　the　predicted　results　and　the　test　results　demonstrate　the　validity　of　the　proposed　SVM　method.　Identification　results,　model　test　results　as　well,　also　confirm　that　navigation　safety　of　the　ship　in　the　proximity　of　a　pier　can　be　guaranteed　if　the　distance　between　the　pier　and　the　ship　is　under　control.　Copyright　©　2011　by　ASME.