## Route Check

| Menu path |
|-----------|
| {{ menu }} → {{ menu_routes }} → Select Route → **Check route** |
| or |
| {{ menu }} → {{ menu_routes }} → Select Route → {{ btn_route_edit}} → **Check route** |

```{important}
Before activation, the route must be checked for navigational safety. Safety check settings are **individual** for each route.
```

### Route check procedure

To check a route, in the **Routes** window, select the route and press **Check route**.

**Check features:**
- Opening a route for editing resets the check status to "not checked"
- To re-run the check, press **Check route**
- The presence of navigational hazards within the **cross-track distance (XTD)** zone is checked

```{tip}
Manual entry of XTD values smaller than the minimum permissible value is not possible. If a smaller XTD value is required, modify the parameters used to calculate the minimum permissible value: drift angle, ENC accuracy, expected position fixing error.
```

### Calculation formulas

#### Automatic calculation of minimum permissible XTD

The minimum permissible XTD value is calculated using the formula:

![XTD calculation formula](images/xtd-formula.png)

where:
- **$B_t$** — vessel maneuvering band width
- **$m$** — expected root mean square error (RMS) of vessel position fixing, entered by the user
- **$c$** — expected RMS of bathymetric feature charting accuracy (CATZOC)

```{note}
For the calculation, the CATZOC value encoded in the cell containing the waypoint with the outgoing route leg is used. If the CATZOC value is > 2, the value entered manually in the **route check settings** is used.
```

#### Maneuvering band calculation

The maneuvering band is calculated using the formula:

![Maneuvering band calculation formula](images/maneuvering-band-formula.png)

where:
- **$L$** — length of the vessel or barge-tow composition, in meters
- **$B$** — beam of the vessel or barge-tow composition, in meters
- **$a$** — maximum drift angle entered in vessel dimensions
- **$V$** — design vessel speed on the route leg, in m/s

### Route check statuses

By default, after creation or import, the route status is set to "not checked".

| Status | Pictogram | Description |
|--------|-----------|-------------|
| **Safe** | ![Safe](images/status-safe.png) | Route has been checked and is safe<br><br>No hazardous objects within the set XTD<br><br>Turns with the set turning radii are feasible |
| **Not checked** | ![Not checked](images/status-not-checked.png) | Route has not been checked<br><br>Safety check is required |
| **XTD problem** | ![XTD problem](images/status-xtd-problem.png) | XTD is less than the minimum distance to hazards<br><br>Turn with the specified radius is not feasible<br><br>Route parameter adjustment is required |
| **Hazards found** | ![Hazards](images/status-hazards-found.png) | Navigational hazards have been found:<br>• Dangerous contour<br>• Prohibited navigation areas<br>• Insufficient vertical clearance<br><br>Route modification is required |
| **Special conditions** | ![Special conditions](images/status-special-areas.png) | Areas with special navigation conditions exist along the route:<br>• AtoN (buoys) within the route safety zone<br>• Outdated ENC cells on the route<br><br>Navigator's attention is required |

```{note}
Similar statuses are used when checking a route from the creation/editing window, but they apply to route legs.
```

### Check exceptions

If any objects or areas have been excluded during check criteria configuration, pressing **Check route** will display a list of objects and areas excluded from the check.

![Excluded objects dialog](images/excluded-objects-dialog.png)

```{warning}
A route with a "not checked" status is checked upon activation. It is recommended to perform the check in advance to identify and resolve potential issues.
```

```{warning}
Checking an extended route that crosses a large number of ENC cells may take a considerable amount of time. It is recommended to perform the check in advance.
```

### Route check status reset

**Reasons for resetting the "Checked" status:**

#### 1. ENC cell changes
- New ENCs have been loaded
- New ENC editions have been loaded
- New update sets have been loaded
- Update cells with statuses Re-Issue, Terminated have been loaded
- Manual cell corrections have been made by the navigator
- New areas to be avoided have been added (imported) by the navigator
- NAVTEX objects have been added by the navigator

#### 2. Vessel parameter changes
- Maximum drift angle
- Minimum distance to hazards
- Vessel dimensions (including forming a barge-tow composition)

#### 3. Navigation condition changes
- Current vessel draft
- Minimum under-keel clearance
- Current water level (affects selection of the dangerous contour and change of vessel vertical dimension)
- Calculated dangerous depth, dangerous contour, or safe height value has changed
- Hazard monitoring criteria have changed

#### 4. External routes
Routes received by any method also have a **Not checked** status and are treated by ECDIS as new.

```{important}
Any change to parameters affecting safety causes all previously checked routes to automatically receive a "not checked" status and require re-checking.
```

### Route safety check criteria configuration

Individual route safety check parameters are set in the settings window, which opens by pressing {{ btn_route_settings }}.

![Safety criteria settings window](images/Route_5.png)

| № | Parameter | Description |
|---|-----------|-------------|
| **1** | **Accuracy of mapping of relief forms** | Manual entry of **bathymetric feature charting accuracy** if CATZOC > 2<br>Otherwise, values are used in accordance with standard S-67 Ed.1.0 Mariners Guide to Accuracy of Depth Information in ENC<br>The parameter affects XTD calculation and hazard monitoring.<br>If, during ENC analysis, CATZOC > 2, the entered value is used for XTD calculation. |
| **2** | **Expected error of route coordinates determinations (RMS)** | Manual entry of **RMS** — expected positioning accuracy on the route<br>Not related to manual RMS entry for vessel position<br>The parameter affects XTD construction and hazard monitoring |
| **3** | **Minimum distance to hazards** | **Minimum distance to hazards**<br>Sets the minimum approach distance to navigational hazards without accounting for RMS |
| **4** | **Navigation hazards** | **Navigational hazards**<br>Includes/excludes objects of this category from the check |
| **5** | **Safe water buoy** | **Safe water buoys**<br>Includes/excludes safe water buoys from the check |
| **6** | **Safety contour** | **Safety contour**<br>Includes/excludes the safety contour from the check |
| **7** | **Areas with special conditions** | **Areas with special navigation conditions** group<br>Includes/excludes objects of this category from checks |
| **8** | **User defined areas to be avoided** | **User-defined areas to be avoided** group<br>Includes/excludes objects of this category from checks |
| **9** | **Save** | Apply settings<br>All changes are saved and applied to the current route |
| **10** | **Cancel** | Return to the route creation/editing window without saving monitoring settings |

```{tip}
It is recommended to configure check criteria according to expected navigation conditions and area characteristics. Stricter criteria increase safety but may limit route options.
```

```{important}
**Route navigational safety check is not performed within the XTD.**

Scanning is performed across the largest-scale cells falling within the navigational safety zone, which also accounts for the minimum distance to navigational hazards.
```

### List of detected hazards

The status pictogram shows whether hazards have been detected on a given leg. Clicking the pictogram opens a window with a list of detected hazards in the vicinity of the selected waypoint and the next route leg. The route being checked is displayed on the map.

**Working with the hazard list:**
- To view a detected hazardous object, select the hazard from the list
- The hazard will be highlighted on the map for visual analysis
- The degree of threat and the need for route correction can be assessed

![Detected hazards list interface](images/hazards-list-interface.png)

![Hazard highlighting on the map](images/hazards-map-highlight.png)

```{tip}
Before plotting and checking a route, ensure that the vessel dimensions are correctly specified and the current draft is entered, and that the check settings are correctly configured for the route being created. If hazards are detected during the check, review the list and edit the route so that it is completely safe!
```

```{important}
**Route navigational safety check does not depend on the current chart display settings or the displayed chart.**

Scanning is performed across the largest-scale cells falling within the XTD.
```

### Route checking recommendations

**Before checking:**
1. Ensure ENCs and update data are current
2. Verify vessel dimensions
3. Set safety criteria appropriate for the navigation area

**Checking process:**
1. Perform a full check of the primary and backup routes
2. Analyze detected hazards
3. If necessary, adjust the route or check criteria
4. Re-run the check after making changes

**After checking:**
1. Ensure that all primary and backup routes have a "safe" status
3. Regularly check the primary and backup routes when the current vessel draft changes or the water level changes

```{warning}
Route checking does not replace the navigator's professional judgment. The final decision on the safety of the voyage is always made by the master, taking into account all factors, including weather conditions, vessel condition, and crew.
```

