It occurs to me that the Captain may have been given direct instructions over the radio "from home" (The Capital) to do whatever is needed to commandeer that vessel. When firing shots didn't do the trick and he reported back "they are not following instructions to come with us to port" then someone (significantly senior to the Captain) "back home" told him to shoulder/ram the other ship to influence their course.
The Captain, not wanting to be relieved followed his orders to the letter.
Did it happen that way?
No idea, but it might have.
Micro management has become quite the thing in this information age of instantaneous communications.
(Glad to see that all of the ship's personnel were retrieved from the water).