A bit of sardonic humour/info from a small round-the-world small boat Captain:

1. Places like African coasts and ports, South American also, Panama Canal and South China Sea see small yachts boarded at sea or in port. Some are about ransom, some want the boat and just kill any crew.

2. The ports you worry most about in those regions are the most likely to confiscate your guns upon arrival (likely in cahoots w pirates).

3. Sometims that diesel overhauling you from astern at dusk w decks full of masked men are just local fishermen wanting to sell you fresh fish on the way to port. But you don't know that until they are along your beam in close.

For those w the stomach, Youtube has videos of military anti-piracy ops and even paramilitary security using sonic, microwave or other repelling tech or small arms on would be pirates trying to grab commercial vessels.

One real world mission type for non-ship owning groups could be as ferry crews to take rich folks vessels where they plan to meet-up with them and holiday or throw a gala etc. You may be transit crew for a J-1 yacht to ferry it across half a sector at J-1 while the patron joins later from a J-4+ luxury courier.

Or a small merc ticket to protect a big commercial ship across a subsector with pirate activity and ports that are dubious.