Why did Titanic not stop after it received its ice warnings?

Answer 1

Typically, rough water sloshes against ice at the water line, making it visible but the ocean was so smooth that night that it was sailing On A Sea Of Glass. No water broke and the berg was not spotted until far too late.

Answer 2

Ice warnings are meant to be just that: warnings. These do not necessarily indicate that the ship must be stopped, unless the amount of ice becomes absolutely overwhelming. This is especially relevant considering that there is always ice in the north Atlantic in the early spring; if a ship stopped at every warning it received, no ships would have gotten anywhere in a timely manner. They are meant to be a heads-up, or a cautionary measure. It also must be noted that Captain Smith did alter his course southwards upon receiving the ones that he did in order to avoid larger ice fields. In that sense, he did heed the warnings; it simply wasn't enough to avoid all icebergs.

Answer 3

The captain of the ship wanted to impress everyone by arriving in New York a few days a head of scheduale. It was a recipe for disaster--Speed and iceburgs.

Answer 4

Because he wanted to be fast across the atlantic, something which would bring extra glory to the journey. And he had what was though of an unsinkable ship.