On Sat, 15 May 2010 10:22:44 -0800, You wrote:

Most Commercial Shipping Vessels do [not] carry any type of electronic
equipment that could, or would, show a whale in near vicinity of a ship.

I agree assuming that you meant "do not carry". Military vessels are
more likely to carry high tech gear like that in my somewhat informed
opinion, side scan SONAR and the like.