dieseldog999:
its not an unreasonable theory for an insurance job on epic proportions.
1500 get drowned,or white star goes bust…bit of a no brainer if i was white star.
I’d guess that the Californian leaving empty stocked with blankets etc suggests that they didn’t intend the 1500 drowned ( or the need for loads of lifeboats to take everyone off at once ). 
Have to say the under water photo comparison is the smoking gun for me.