Track control system

A track control system is an automatic steering function that keeps the ship on a planned ECDIS route by computing and applying the rudder orders needed to hold the programmed track, including the turn at each wheelover point. It goes beyond a heading-control autopilot, which only holds a set heading, by steering to a position track and correcting for set, drift, and wind so cross-track error stays near zero. The IMO performance standard is MSC.74(69) Annex 2, and the system must alert the officer and allow instant manual override. It takes route, GNSS position, gyro heading, and speed as inputs and is a core element of an integrated bridge.