Ship automatic control system, ship, and automatic ship control method

摘要

A virtual course L2v of a virtual object being tracked 2v is provided on a virtual coordinate plane, a virtual movement point Piv which satisfies a first graphic condition is set for this virtual course L2v, the position Pp of an object being tracked 2 is detected, the virtual position Ppv of the virtual object being tracked 2v is depicted on the virtual coordinate plane, the point in time when the virtual position Ppv satisfies a graphic second condition for the virtual course L2v is defined as the movement start time ti, and when this movement start time ti is reached, autopilot is performed whereby the host vessel 1 moves towards the actual movement point Pi which corresponds to the virtual movement point Piv, after obtaining the input of a movement permission signal or without obtaining the input of a movement permission signal. As a result of this configuration, the object being tracked 2 is tracked in a fuel-efficient state by minimizing the amount of meandering of the host vessel 1, even if the object being tracked 2 meanders.