A route planning system and methods involving: a processor operable by executable instructions, the instructions having cooperating algorithms, the cooperating algorithms having an A* algorithm, an IA* algorithm cooperatively communicating with the A* algorithm; and a Dijkstra algorithm cooperatively communicating with the IA* algorithm, the IA* algorithm configured to iteratively and recursively call the A* algorithm to generate directed arcs, the IA* algorithm configured to call the Dijkstra algorithm and to transmit the directed arcs to the Dijkstra algorithm, and the A* algorithm and the Dijkstra algorithm being non-interacting; and an automatic identifications systems transceiver disposed in relation to a vessel, the transceiver configured to receive global positioning system signals and calculate a current position of the vessel in relation to Earth, the AIS transceiver configured to communicate with the processor.