Nicholas Alley Appointed Captain of The Amistad
October 2023
Nicholas Alley, a highly experienced seaman and maritime educator, has been appointed to be the full-time Captain of The Amistad. The ship is used as a floating classroom by the educational organization Discovering Amistad, teaching the lessons of the 1839 Amistad Uprising to advance racial and social justice today.
Mr. Alley has over 40 years of experience on the water. Most recently he has been a member of the senior waterfront staff at the Mystic Seaport Museum. He has captained tall ships from Canada to the Caribbean and worked as a captain/mate on large commercial tugs up and down the mid-Atlantic. He maintains a 500 Ton Ocean Master License and has a Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue boats.
The tall ships and schooners that Mr. Alley has captained over the years include “The Brilliant”, “Virginia”, “Spirit of Massachusetts” “Harvey Gamage” “Westward” “Lettie G. Howard” and “Woodwind.” In 1997 he served as Mate on the “Pride of Baltimore II” when the ship was used in the filming of the Steven Spielberg film “AMISTAD.”
Commenting on the appointment, Paula Mann-Agnew, Executive Director of Discovering Amistad, said,“We are thrilled to have attracted such an experienced educator and seaman to captain our Tall Ship. As our core goal is social justice, Captain Alley brings the perfect combination of expertise and interpersonal leadership skills which aligns with the DA mission.”
One of Captain Alley’s top priorities will be supervising a major renovation of the ship at the Mystic Seaport Museum Shipyard, which has been made possible by a $1.3 million grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.
"I am excited and thrilled to command such a storied vessel and look forward to working with a great organization to give the boat the care and attention she deserves,” Mr. Alley said.
