This study presents an adaptive fuzzy neural network (FNN) control system for the ship steering autopilot. For the Norrbin ship steering mathematical model with the nonlinear and uncertain dynamic characteristics, an adaptive FNN control system is designed to achieve high-precision track control via the backstepping approach. In the adaptive FNN control system, a FNN backstepping controller is a principal controller which includes a FNN estimator used to estimate the uncertainties, and a robust controller is designed to compensate the shortcoming of the FNN backstepping controller. All adaptive learning algorithms in the adaptive FNN control system are derived from the sense of Lyapunov stability analysis, so that system-tracking stability can be guaranteed in the closed-loop system. The effectiveness of the proposed adaptive FNN control system is verified by simulation results.