Track Monitoring

Menu path

MenuRoutes → Select Route → Activate

ECDIS monitors navigation along the route.

Track monitoring is performed only when a route is activated.

Route activation

  1. Go to “Routes”

Route list for activation

  1. Select the route and press “Activate”

When activating a route, ECDIS checks the route status. If the route is safe, activation will be performed; otherwise, a notification will be displayed. The route can be activated forcibly.

Route activation dialog

Important

Before activating the route, check the current draft and water level settings. In the “Route check settings”, the area groups to be checked during track monitoring must be selected.

What happens on activation

On activation:

  • the route is displayed on the map, and the first waypoint is centered on the screen

  • the Route monitoring panel becomes available in the right panel

  • the off-scale indicator of the vessel’s position on the route becomes available

  • a Voyage time diagram appears at the bottom of the chart window

  • when the vessel exceeds the XTD boundaries, ECDIS will generate warnings

  • ECDIS will generate warnings about approaching turn points visually on the off-scale indicator and with an audible signal

Alarms and warnings

When navigating along an activated route, ECDIS generates additional alarms, warnings, and cautions related to the route:

  • when any point of the vessel’s outline exceeds the maximum cross-track deviation from the planned track set by the navigator

  • warnings/cautions about predicted XTD exceedance

  • route monitoring criteria are configurable:

Monitoring criteria settings

  • Time to turn alert — warning time before an upcoming turn

Important

When heading data is unavailable, XTD exceedance monitoring is performed relative to the track vector.

Route monitoring panel

Route monitoring panel

Element

Description

1

Active route name

Name of the route being used for track monitoring

2

Route status

Check status indicator

3

WP***

Number or name of the current waypoint

4

Bearing to WP

Bearing to the next waypoint

5

Distance to WOL

Distance to the wheel-over point (calculated taking into account the turning radius)

6

Time to WOL

Time to the wheel-over point

7

Leg bearing

Direction of the planned track to the waypoint of the current route leg

8

ETA

Estimated time of arrival at the final waypoint of the route

9

Calculated date

Estimated date of arrival at the final point of the route

10

WP***

Number or name of the next waypoint

11

Bearing/Dist.

Direction and length of the next route leg

12

Turn diagram at the next waypoint

13

Passed

Distance traveled out of the total length

13

Rem. time

Voyage time — time since the start of track monitoring

Hint

When activating a route, ECDIS automatically selects the nearest WP and adopts it as the starting point of the route. The bearing to the automatically selected WP will be displayed in the window.

If necessary, the navigator can change the waypoint to follow.

Voyage time diagram

When a route is activated, a voyage time diagram is generated.

A single left-click (tap) expands the diagram. The diagram includes:

Collapsed diagram view:

Voyage time diagram (collapsed view)

Expanded diagram view:

Voyage time diagram (expanded view)

Element

Description

1

WP name

Waypoint name

2

Minimum depth

Minimum depth on the route leg, taken from the ENC, taking into account the current water level value entered manually

3

Planned speed

On the route leg

4

Course

On the route leg

5

Arrival time

At the WP

6

Stay time

At the WP

7

Departure time

From the WP

8

Distance

Between WPs

Working with the diagram

Zooming: Short route sections may overlap. To view hidden information in the diagram, change the diagram scale:

  • Zoom in: hover the cursor over the hidden route section and scroll the mouse wheel

  • Mouse wheel scrolling performs both zooming in and out of the diagram

  • On a touch screen: zooming in and out is performed by spreading/pinching two fingers on the segment of interest

Diagram zooming

Viewing point information: In the collapsed view, information for any route point can be viewed by clicking on the desired point.

Waypoint information

Element

Description

1

WP name

Waypoint name

2

Planned speed

On the route leg

3

Minimum depth

On the route leg, taken from the ENC, taking into account the current water level value entered manually

4

Distance between WPs

Distance between waypoints

5

Course

On the route leg

6

Arrival time

At the WP

7

Departure time

From the WP

8

Stay time

At the WP

9

Selected WP

Marker of the currently selected point

Tip

If ECDIS operation is interrupted for any reason, navigation along the activated route will resume when operation is restored.

In the expanded view, information for all points is displayed.

Route deactivation

After passing the last waypoint, the route is automatically deactivated.

The Deactivate button forcibly stops route monitoring.

Track monitoring recommendations

Preparation for route activation:

  1. Analyze the route safety check results

  2. Verify the currency of ENCs and update data

  3. Check the operability of navigational sensors

Monitoring process:

  1. Continuously monitor XTD deviation

  2. Track the navigation schedule

  3. Analyze monitoring system warnings

  4. Monitor changes in the navigational situation

Safety control:

  1. Do not ignore alarm and warning signals

  2. Respond promptly to route deviations

  3. Adjust speed if necessary

Important

Track monitoring requires constant attention from the officer of the watch.

Automation does not relieve the navigator of the duty to maintain traditional navigational plotting and monitor navigation safety.

Features of working with an activated route

Limitations with an active route:

  • Editing of the route is prohibited

  • Vessel dimensions cannot be changed

  • Safety criteria cannot be adjusted

  • Deletion of the active route is unavailable

Warning

In case of unforeseen circumstances (new obstacles, weather condition changes, technical malfunctions), immediately deactivate the route and make a decision on further actions.

The safety of the vessel and crew takes priority over compliance with the voyage plan.

Note

Track monitoring is the final stage of voyage planning. The quality of its execution directly affects the safety and efficiency of navigation.