The acicular ferrite in high strength ship plate steel was observed by confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM),and morphology in steel of in situ observation was investigated by using optical microscopy.The results show that holding time of 900 s is in favor of acicular ferrite nucleation.The austenite grain size increases with increasing holding time.The austenite size that is acquired at 900 s of the holding time is more conducive to the nucleation of acicular ferrite. The starting formation temperature of ferrite firstly decreases with increasing holding time,then increases. The ending formation temperature of ferrite decreases with increasing holding time.