Sledge, yes, I agree with you on the presence of a noise source and that the movies have clouded our view on this. No, they probably couldn't hear a couple of dozen pairs of chopsticks clacking together but, as stated in my previous post, even if the main engines were shut down and the prop. stationery, the amount of auxilliary machinery running is considerable. Diesel generators -for electricity, compressors - for refrigeration & air conditioning, lube-oil pumps, fresh water pumps, cooling water pumps etc.etc. All these items are generally below waterline, they are bolted to the ships hull, so, the mechanical noise print from them goes straight out into the ocean. It' bloody loud and it travels a long way - ask the whales, they've been communicating by underwater noise for some time now.

JG F.M.E.