The U.S. Navy has undertaken a shiphandling trainer design and development project for the purpose of upgrading existing training. Naval officers at all career levels have had fewer opportunities to acquire and practice shiphandling skills because of a considerable reduction in underway steaming time. A functional design has been generated that describes several design alternatives ranging from expensive, full mission, high fidelity, bridge simulators to smaller part-task devices that train principles and concepts. The Navy has determined that a relatively small, less expensive part-task trainer may meet most of the requirements for training basic and intermediate level shiphandling skills in the areas of shiphandling: alongside, in restricted waters, in open ocean, during mooring and anchoring, and for tactical operations. A model device has been developed that allows the Navy an opportunity to evaluate each of the proposed trainer subsystems under consideration for final engineering design. Major subsystems include a computer generated imagery (CGI) visual display, computer aided instruction (CAI), and a situation display that affords immediate and delayed performance feedback during and after training exercises. Future research using this model will provide important information concerning subsystem training effectiveness and the fidelity requirements for major areas of shiphandling training.