Suggestion how to make the merchant allience better

So its no secret that a lot of people dont like doing the merchant allience quest what with loud obnoxious animals, timed quests, and cargo that can break. And while those are not deal breakers for everyone they are for most.
I suggest another option that may be easy to implament. Why not have merchant ships carring cargo from one outpost to another that can be attacked, sunk, and looted. Ship battle is quite enjoyable and as a faction activity that wont have cursed cannonballs it will be easier and help get newer players aquanted with ship battle that they can later go to the more difficult skeletonships that have cursed cannonballs.