Optimized support vector regression algorithm-based modeling of ship dynamics

•A simplistic dynamic model is developed to describe dynamics of different types’ ships, which is applicable in the Maritime Traffic Simulation.•The structural parameters of LS-SVR are optimized by artificial bee colony algorithm and further assigned with particular settings.•The improved LS-SVR is the first time to be used in maritime domain for parameter estimation of ship dynamic models.•The approach developed for modeling dynamics of different types’ ships is evaluated through simulation study on a container ship and experimental study on an unmanned surface vessel.