Factual error: At this time, there was no way that you could take full control of a ship's engine, navigation, fire fighting systems etc. remotely.
Other mistake: While the ship rips through the town, many buildings seems to get smashed. But in the shot from above not all the damaged buildings are visible. (01:41:10 - 01:45:00)
Factual error: The boat used by Bullock and Defoe to get off the cruise ship is water jet powered. The boat is shown launching from a dry dock and into the water using its engine. This is impossible. The only way for a water jet powered boat to accelerate is to be in the water.
Other mistake: The bow thruster is activated to avoid colliding with the oil tanker. Since the thruster is never turned off, the cruise ship should have continued on traveling in circles. However, after scraping the oil tanker the cruise ship travels in a straight line into the island.
Continuity mistake: Just before the evacuation, the ship stops. When Merced runs to the computer in the bridge, the speed indicator shows 18.2 knots.
Answer: There is no logical reason for it and it is purely for cinematic theatrics. It's a movie myth that cars, boats, etc. immediately explode upon impact. In real life, explosions rarely happen that way.
raywest ★