Support　vector　machines　(SVM)　are　proposed　in　order　to　obtain　a　robust　controller　for　ship　course-keeping.　A　cascaded　system　is　constructed　by　combining　the　dynamics　of　the　rudder　actuator　with　the　dynamics　of　ship　motion.　Modeling　errors　and　disturbances　are　taken　into　account　in　the　plant.　A　controller　with　a　simple　structure　is　produced　by　applying　an　SVM　and　L2-gain　design.　The　SVM　is　used　to　identify　the　complicated　nonlinear　functions　and　the　modeling　errors　in　the　plant.　The　Lagrangian　factors　in　the　SVM　are　obtained　using　on-line　tuning　algorithms.　L2-gain　design　is　applied　to　suppress　the　disturbances.　To　obtain　the　optimal　parameters　in　the　SVM,　then　particle　swarm　optimization　(PSO)　method　is　incorporated.　The　stability　and　robustness　of　the　close-loop　system　are　confirmed　by　Lyapunov　stability　analysis.　Numerical　simulation　is　performed　to　demonstrate　the　validity　of　the　proposed　hybrid　controller　and　its　superior　performance　over　a　conventional　PD　controller.