Frequently they do avoid vessels, except silent ones. The ocean is a noisy place. Whales seem to 'tune out' repetitive background noise like the drone of an approaching vessel. Whales sometimes seem to have difficulty locating an approaching ship.

Whales generally avoid hitting boats because they possess incredibly sophisticated echolocation and hearing, allowing them to detect the acoustic signature of a vessel from great distances. For most cetaceans, the loud, rhythmic thrum of an engine is a clear signal of an approaching object. Furthermore, whales are intelligent, social creatures with strong spatial awareness; they often view boats as potential threats or simply as large, noisy obstacles to be circumnavigated. However, "whale strikes" do still occur, particularly with high-speed vessels or in dense shipping lanes. This often happens because the whale is distracted while feeding, socializing, or sleeping near the surface, or because "acoustic masking" from other ocean noises makes it difficult for them to pinpoint the boat's exact location. In 2026, many marine regions have implemented strict "slow zones" and used real-time satellite tracking to notify captains of whale pods nearby, further reducing the risk of accidental collisions and protecting these majestic mammals from maritime traffic.