As a method to reduce collision accidents of ships at sea, this paper suggests an expert system for collision avoidance and navigation (hereafter "ESCAN"). The ESCAN is designed and developed by using the theory and technology of expert system and based on the information provided by AIS and RADAR/ARPA system. In this paper the ESCAN is composed of four(4) components; Facts/Data Base in charge of preserving data from navigational equipment, Knowledge Base storing production rules of the ESCAN, Inference Engine deciding which rules are satisfied by facts or objects, User System Interface for communication between users and ESCAN. The ESCAN has the function of real--time analysis and judgment of various encountering situations between own ship and targets, and is to provide navigators with appropriate plans of collision avoidance and additional advice and recommendation This paper, as a basic study, is to introduce the basic design and function of ESCAN.