Two hurt when pirates attack Italian ship in Gulf of Mexico

Mount some adequate weaponry on the ships, legalese be ######.

SINK the attackers once the situation has been identified. Then leave them to the sea.

If you insist on failing to have proper weaponry for both ship defense and for close quarters combat (Marine 870 shotgun comes in handly here (Marine refers to the no rust matte coating made for the sea.) throw a box of slugs into the things and have some armor on. Keep a handgun on the holster for work that is needed when Mr Shotty is not quite eating or ready to.

Anything else is just wasteful BS.

Shipboard defense are very easy. Grab the 76mm OTO stablized ship gun which can select and fire anything needed. Canister would be one good choice to erase a longboat or zodiac with pirates in them And some HESH or Penetrative HE to sink the mother craft when they are found. A box of hellfire missiles for heavier targets plus a nest of Rolling Airframe Missiles to back the whole thing up. Any helicopter failing to correctly identify is immediately killed. The sea takes care of any lingering suits from those who think the Dindus cannot do any warfare.

Yes I am blood thirsty against pirates. We have been fighting them since before Tripoli. 244 years ago.

If you are squeamish, hire a russian who will sail a nice frigate who will shred the pirates for you, at a small markup and a ammunition bill. Easy peasy. And then level the center of that pirate's operations on shore with a Kaliber. Burns right through the building and everyone in it.

Just tell Russian no pirate gets near this ship you are hired to protect. And it will happen, no one will get close to you without your explicit permission and love.