How would a real pirate attack, feel like?

In this blog post, the author writes about her experience of being inside a ship that was attacked by pirates off the Somali coast. I have come across these things in the news, but this is the first time I am reading an insider account of what happens(ed) when ships are attacked by pirates.

I am actually shocked at the defenses in such large ships. I mean, the pirates were attacking using rocket launchers and AK-47, and all that the ship could do was use water cannons and run away from them? I am not sure what kind of defense mechanisms they are entitled to (by law), but I feel that large ships like these should be armed and be able to use them in defense (at least to scare off the attackers).