The expert's on the show were convinced that had the ship remained in deeper water, it would have rolled and sunk. The hull damage was too extensive for the ship to remain floating for very long. Water was pouring in by the ton and too many flood compartments were damaged for the 'ship-as-a-lifeboat' concept to have been viable.

Anyone below deck would have been in trouble. Casualties would have been 'Titanic-like' had this played out in deep water, which was less than 100' feet from where they ran aground. The margin between this scenario and total disaster was less than 100'.

The wind pushing the ship aground is believed to have saved hundreds of lives and maybe even most of the lives on-board.