The invention discloses a method and a device for rapidly and accurately locating a ship. The device comprises a rotary table, an observation device and a computer, wherein the observation device rotates on the rotary table, the computer is connected with the observation device through a signal cable, and the observation device comprises a digital video and an axial angle encoder. According to the method and the device for locating the ship, factors of reference substance directions, distances, included angles and the like can be rapidly measured by means of the observation device, the measured factors are automatically transmitted into the computer, and the current position of the ship is calculated through the computer, so that automation degrees and positioning accuracy of traditional locating methods are improved; and the method and the device don't use radio waves and are free from electromagnetic interference so that the method and the device can regularly work under complicated electromagnetic environments.