Abstract: The core of the technology development for intelligent ships is to construct a complete software and hardware system from decision-making to autonomous control, which realizes the evolution from manual operation to intelligent navigation. The development of software and hardware systems are inseparable from comprehensive testing procedures and standards. This paper first reviews the latest in existing domestic and foreign technology test fields for intelligent ships. Afterward, ship performance, energy efficiency, information, and intelligence are proposed as objectives for intelligent navigation functional testing for intelligent ships. Finally, a system methodology of the virtual simulation tests, model-scale tests, and full-scale tests for the navigation function of intelligent ships is proposed.