I was just thinking that the names of all three ships are appropriate to Wentworth's tenure aboard them:

The Asp: suggest great danger and possible treachery. He was felt lucky to have survived and his comment "I knew we would either goes to the bottom together or she'd take me where I wanted to go" suggests a life or death struggle, like one might have with a deadly adversary, like an asp.

The Laconia: The part of ancient greece where the Spartan's came from, suggests a certain warrior-like and efficient nature. (The word laconic means concise and efficient speech). On board the Laconia, Wentworth sailed through one engagement after another, quickly becoming rich with no time wasted.