in this kind of situation, a quick draw (between the people who want to abandon ship) is in order. 30 seconds is enough time for a draw if it is done fast enough. unfortunately, helpless people (children/elders) can't go since they aren't strong enough to swim over to the other lifeboat.
abandoning ship is not an option as it will surly mean the demise of everyone else on the doomed boat, and if i'm strong enough to swim to the other boat, then i'll be strong enough to survive a little while longer when the boat actually sinks.
but then again, talk is cheap.
I had a diffrenet approach at solving this, my choice was to stay and help because if i abandoned ship, that would lose the others not only their resting period, but their morale as well. I'd stay and help, and enshallah, it will work out for the best.