I don't know much about the trade routes I guess but my question has been why don't they simply go a little further away from that part of the African coast?
Don't resist and everything will be ok!
After all, if you can't trust in the basic level headed human decency of teenage pirates, hopped up on qat and waving Kalashnikovs, what CAN you trust in...?
A big honking fat slow tub of a merchie with valuable cargo as deck loading visible to the most greedy pirate will draw em in like fly lights.
The grey coloring and rust wont give these ships away for a good long time.
Captain Aubrey: And we are worth more to them undamaged. Their greed... will be their downfall. England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship, is England. So it's every hand to his rope or gun, quick's the word and sharp's the action. After all... Surprise is on our side.
Same with arming the crew. I just don't see a government condoning things like that, and possibly even making trouble for a shipping company that did decide to try it.