There are pictures in other threads showing the cargo ships track. How would that track be available if the transponder was off?
Same thought I had. Tracking would have shone the transponder going off line.
Maybe the cargo ship has a GPS that records its track and the log of its track was made available. Or, maybe someone in the "media" made it up to try and sell a juicy story.
The REAL story is too frightening to even think about, so the authorities made up the collision story to keep the public from panicking.
You see, the whales have become so enraged at our lack of concern for climate change that they are now attacking ships in revenge. In this case, two whales attacked two ships at the same time. They are really pissed at humans, and it will only get worse... if we don't all cough up a lot more money and let the ultra-rich climate change experts deal with this problem for us.