Segmentation　of　infrared　(IR)　ship　images　is　always　a　challenging　task,　because　of　the　intensity　inhomogeneity　and　noise.　The　fuzzy　C-means　(FCM)　clustering　is　a　classical　method　widely　used　in　image　segmentation.　However,　it　has　some　shortcomings,　like　not　considering　the　spatial　information　or　being　sensitive　to　noise.　In　this　paper,　an　improved　FCM　method　based　on　the　spatial　information　is　proposed　for　IR　ship　target　segmentation.　The　improvements　include　two　parts:　1)　adding　the　nonlocal　spatial　information　based　on　the　ship　target　and　2)　using　the　spatial　shape　information　of　the　contour　of　the　ship　target　to　refine　the　local　spatial　constraint　by　Markov　random　field.　In　addition,　the　results　of　K-means　are　used　to　initialize　the　improved　FCM　method.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　improved　method　is　effective　and　performs　better　than　the　existing　methods,　including　the　existing　FCM　methods,　for　segmentation　of　the　IR　ship　images.