Had Titanic slowed and hit the iceburg full on, then in all probability she would have survived as she was designed to do.  The rip down the side overwhelmed the watertight compartments and exposed a further weakness, a fire in a port side coal bunker,  that buckled and allowed water to ingress where it should not have and also explaining why she went down bow first.  

I don't think there is anything analogous to POET's current circumstances.  But could not resist a nautical reference.

sula