Here, we call that particular phenomenon (reserved, generally, for those punters who pull down batting averages, etc., out of thin air) as a "mathemagician."
Can't resist a bad pun! Apologies to OP- analysis aside, I think you pose a valid question. Why wasn't more done?
Well, given your forethoughtful officer (and I deeply wish there had been such a one), he would be following orders from his superior officer, performing his assigned duty.. Deviation from that would be seen as dereliction of duty, if not worse. Actually, might have even gotten him shot! In that time, it would have been unthinkable for a sailor to do ought but what he was ordered. Same mindset maintains in military operations yo this day.
I've loved the tale of the Whiskey Baker, who had extreme presence of mind to hurl deck chairs into the sea for flotation devices, before going back for a second round! (I just know someone will pinprick this little bubble of Titanic probable myth for me haha! But when it comes to Titanic, or indeed, any history: I'd rather the truth than the myth.