The Otway was a vessel originally built in 1799, with sources describing her as either French or Spanish in origin, though her precise origins remain somewhat uncertain. She was registered in Liverpool in 1800 and was primarily engaged in the transatlantic slave trade during her early years. She measured approximately 1800 vessel, with her service characterized by four documented voyages transporting enslaved Africans from West Africa to the West Indies. Throughout these voyages, Otway was commanded by various captains, including John Herron, Luke Mann, Duncan Stewart, and Alexander Hackney. Under Herron’s command, she gathered captives from West Central Africa and St. Helena, disembarking 336 captives in Kingston, Jamaica, in May 1801, with a mortality rate of around 9.7%. Her subsequent voyages followed similar patterns, with captains acquiring letters of marque, indicating she also operated as a privateer at times. She transported hundreds of captives each voyage, often disembarking over 300 in Jamaica, with small crew mortality rates. In 1806, Otway’s career was interrupted during the naval conflicts of the period. She was captured by the French frigate Cybèle, part of a squadron under Commodore L'Hermite, during an expedition off the African coast. At the time of her capture, she had not yet embarked any captives on that voyage. The French may have considered commissioning her as a corvette, but she does not appear on French Navy lists afterward, suggesting her service in that capacity was brief or unconfirmed. Later, the vessel was renamed Alerte (or Alert) and operated as a French privateer based in Guadeloupe. As Alerte, she captured several British merchant ships, including Alexander, Harriet, Highlander, and others, before being herself captured by the British Royal Navy in October 1807. The vessel’s history highlights her role in the triangular trade, her involvement in naval warfare and privateering during the Napoleonic Wars, and her significance as a vessel caught amid the conflicts of her era.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.