So it’s not about piracy, but it really is.
Every player who manages to successfully deliver at least one trade pack will be awarded 20 Merit Badges (it’s on the account level, so it can only go to one character), but the five players who deliver the largest number will receive even more prizes, culminating in plans and supplies for a new ship. Which might make up for the number of ships you’ll lose trying to ship all of those trade packs. Just don’t be surprised if your overseas routes have greater than normal piracy this weekend, that’s all.
Source: Official Site